Question

Given that carbonic acid, H₂CO₃, has a pK_a1 = 6.37 and a pK_a2 = 10.33, answer the following.

(a) If you wanted to make a pH 7 buffer solution starting with NaHCO₃(aq), would you add 0.10 M HCl or 0.10 M NaOH?

answer: 0.10 M HCl

(b) If you began with 6.5 mL of 0.45 M NaHCO₃, how many mL of your choice from (a) would you need to add to get a pH 7 buffer?
mL