Hydrolysis of Na₃PO₄ to PO₄³⁻:
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The pH calculation for sodium phosphate (Na₃PO₄) solution involves determining the hydrolysis of the phosphate ion (PO₄³⁻) in water. As a salt of a weak acid (H₃PO₄) and strong base (NaOH), Na₃PO₄ undergoes hydrolysis, producing a basic solution.
The calculator uses the hydrolysis formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula accounts for the hydrolysis of PO₄³⁻ ions and the basic nature of the resulting solution.
Details: Accurate pH calculation is crucial for understanding the chemical behavior of phosphate solutions, which are important in biological systems, industrial processes, and laboratory applications.
Tips: Enter pKa₃ value (typically 12.35 for phosphoric acid) and concentration in mol/L. The calculator will compute the pH of the Na₃PO₄ solution.
Q1: Why is Na₃PO₄ solution basic?
A: Na₃PO₄ is the salt of a weak acid (H₃PO₄) and strong base (NaOH). The phosphate ion (PO₄³⁻) undergoes hydrolysis with water, producing OH⁻ ions and making the solution basic.
Q2: What is the typical pKa₃ value for phosphoric acid?
A: The third dissociation constant pKa₃ for phosphoric acid is typically 12.35 at 25°C.
Q3: How does concentration affect the pH?
A: Higher concentrations of Na₃PO₄ generally result in higher pH values due to increased hydrolysis of phosphate ions.
Q4: Are there limitations to this calculation?
A: This calculation assumes ideal behavior and may not account for ionic strength effects or temperature variations beyond standard conditions.
Q5: What are common applications of Na₃PO₄ solutions?
A: Sodium phosphate solutions are used as buffers in biological research, cleaning agents, water treatment, and food processing.