DAT Destroyer Common Ion Error?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

charcot bouchard

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
The question in question (no pun intended) asks:

The Ksp of PbCl2 is 1.6 x 10^-5 at 25 degrees C. What is the solubility of PbCl2 in 0.01M KCl?

First, let's find the molar solubility of PbCl2 with no common ion effect:

Ksp = 1.6 x 10^-5 = x(2x)^2
1.6 x 10^-5 = 4x^3
x = 0.0158

Now, if we solve the question asked using 0.01M Cl- as the common ion:

Ksp = 1.6 x 10^-5 = x(0.01)^2
1.6 x 10^-5 = 0.001x
x = 0.16

0.16 is the correct answer given in DAT Destroyer. My question is: why is the molar solubility of PbCl2 so much higher when you start with Cl- in solution? Is that not supposed to deter PbCl2 from dissolving? Doesn't this problem contradict what you would expect if you understand the common ion effect?
 
When I put (1.6 x 10^-5)/0.001 in my calculator I get x=0.016 which is fairly close to it's solubility in pure water. I assume it's close because the [KCl] is relatively low. However it still increases which doesn't make sense...

I found a similar problem on khan academy however KCl has a higher concentration.

Edit: I did an exact calculation without canceling out the 2x.
(so 1.6x10^-5= 0.0001x + 0.04x^2 + 4x^3). You get an answer of x=0.01273, which is lower and makes sense. So I guess since it's such a low concentration, assuming x is small causes a bigger error in the answer than with a higher concentration of KCl.
 
Last edited: