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lOMoARcPSD|2363628

Typical calculation

Chemistry 2 (University of Melbourne)

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lOMoARcPSD|2363628

Typical calculation

Fresh lake water at pH 5.5. What is the ratio of Fe3+ to Fe2+?

O2 + 4H! + 4e- à 2H2O Eo = 1.23 V


Fe3+(aq) + e- à Fe2+(aq) Eo = 0.77 V
O2 + 4 H! + 4 Fe2+(aq) à 2 H2O + 4 Fe3+(aq) Eo = 0.46 V

�� [�� 67 ]9
�∀#∃∃ = �∀#∃∃
&
− ���∀ , �ℎ��� �∀ =
�� [�7 ]9 [�� ;7 ]9

or

0.0591 [�� 67 ]9
�∀#∃∃ = �∀#∃∃
&
− ����∀ , �ℎ��� �∀ = 7 9
� [� ] [�� ;7 ]9

now z = 4, pH = 5.5

at equilibrium Ecell = 0, therefore

9
0.0591 [�� 67 ] [�� 67 ]
�∀#∃∃
&
= log Γ 7 Η = 0.0591log Γ 7 Η = 0.46
4 [� ][�� ;7 ] [� ][�� ;7 ]

now log(a.b) = log(a) + log(b), and log(ab) = b.log(a) then

[�� 67 ] [�� 67 ]
�∀#∃∃
&
= 0.0591log Γ 7 Η = −0.0591log[� ] + 0.0591log Γ
7
Η = 0.46
[� ][�� ;7 ] [�� ;7 ]

divide by 0.0591 and rearrange



[�� 67 ]
log Γ Η = 7.78 + log[� 7 ] = 7.78 + (−5.5) = 2.28
[�� ;7 ]

so,
[�� 67 ]
2.28 = log Γ Η
[�� ;7 ]

and therefore
[�� 67 ]
= 10;.;Π
[�� ;7 ]
= 190

OK, so around 200. (Small rounding errors can make a large difference, i.e. 102.3 = 200)

Distributing prohibited | Downloaded by richard langley (huynhloc2000@gmail.com)

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