How to Calculate the pH When Mixing Acids and Bases
Dot-Point 6: calculate the pH of the resultant solution when solutions of acids and/or bases are diluted or mixed
When acids and bases are mixed, the resulting pH of the solution depends on which substance (acid or base) is in excess. To calculate the pH, we need to follow a few steps to figure out how much of each reactant is left after they neutralize each other. Here’s a simple guide to help you approach these types of problems.
Key Steps to Solve pH Calculation Problems
Write the balanced chemical equation for the neutralization reaction.
Calculate the moles of acid and base in the initial solutions.
Determine the limiting reagent (the substance that will be used up first) and calculate the moles of the excess reagent.
Calculate the concentration of the excess reagent in the final volume of the solution.
Use the excess reagent to calculate the final pH or pOH of the solution.
Example 1: Mixing Sodium Hydroxide with Hydrochloric Acid
Problem:
Example 2: Adding Sodium Hydroxide to Hydrochloric Acid
Problem:
