The pH of very dilute solutions of strong acids – a calculation for a medical or biomedical class involving the application of simple numerical skills
- Author:
Peter Michael Barling
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
pH, numerical skills, dilute solution, ionisation
- From:International e-Journal of Science, Medicine and Education
2012;6(2):32-38
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
This paper presents the solution to a calculation
of the pH of a very dilute solution of a strong acid or
base, taking into account the effect of the hydronium
or hydroxyl ions generated from the ionisation of the
strong acid or base on the ionisation of water, as a
second very weak acid. To be solved successfully, this
calculation involves the concepts of conservation of
charge, pH and the application of the general solution
to a quadratic equation. Such an exercise involves the
application of skills in basic numeracy, and can provide
a core of understanding that can prepare students for
many different sorts of calculations that represent reallife problems in the medical and biological sciences.
A programme is presented in C++ which enables the
work of students to be individualised so that each
student in a class can work through a slightly different
pH calculation, in such a way that a class supervisor
can quickly check each student’s result for accuracy.
This exercise is presented as a potential means of
enabling students to undertake and master similar
types of calculations involving simple or more complex
equilibria.
- Full text:W020151005523516366078.pdf
