Sodium bicarbonate () contains an amphiprotic anion. If and of carbonic acid are 6.3 and 10.3 respec — Ionic Equilibrium Chemistry Question
Question
Sodium bicarbonate ($NaHCO_3$) contains an amphiprotic anion. If $pK_{a1}$ and $pK_{a2}$ of carbonic acid are 6.3 and 10.3 respectively, what is the pH of a 0.1 M $NaHCO_3$ solution?
Answer: C
💡 Solution & Explanation
For an amphiprotic salt like $NaHCO_3$, the anion undergoes both ionization and hydrolysis. The pH is entirely independent of concentration and is calculated as $pH = \frac{pK_{a1} + pK_{a2}}{2} = \frac{6.3 + 10.3}{2} = 8.3$.
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