What is the specific equivalent mass of Phosphoric acid () in the following balanced neutralization — Mole Concept and Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry Chemistry Question
Question
What is the specific equivalent mass of Phosphoric acid ($H_3PO_4$) in the following balanced neutralization reaction? (Assume $M$ represents the exact molar mass of $H_3PO_4$). $H_3PO_4 + Ca(OH)_2 \rightarrow CaHPO_4 + 2H_2O$
💡 Solution & Explanation
Step 1: Analyze the reaction to determine the basicity (n-factor) of the acid. Phosphoric acid ($H_3PO_4$) has three replaceable acidic hydrogen atoms. Step 2: Observe the products. The product salt is $CaHPO_4$, indicating that only two of the three acidic hydrogen atoms have been replaced by the calcium cation during this specific reaction. Step 3: Calculate the equivalent weight. Since exactly 2 moles of $H^+$ were transferred per mole of $H_3PO_4$, the n-factor is 2. Equivalent Weight = Molar Mass / n-factor = $M/2$.