Dielectric Constant ionization and pH

[MDwannabe7]

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The dielectric constant of a solvent is a measure of its polarity. The higher its value, the better the solvent is at solvating ions. Below is a list of the dielectric constants of certain solvents at 20 deg C.

Benzene - 2.3
Chloroform - 5.1
Diethyl ether - 4.3
Hexane - 1.9

If the same amount of nitric acid is added to 0.5 L of each solvent, which solvent would result in a solution with the highest pH?

How does the amount of solvation relate to pH? Are they saying that if a solvent isn't very good at solvating ions, the solute is more likely to ionize and therefore separate into more H+ which gives for a higher pH? Can someone please explain this to me?

 

[spyderracing32]

The dielectric constant of a solvent is a measure of its polarity. The higher its value, the better the solvent is at solvating ions. Below is a list of the dielectric constants of certain solvents at 20 deg C.

Benzene - 2.3
Chloroform - 5.1
Diethyl ether - 4.3
Hexane - 1.9

If the same amount of nitric acid is added to 0.5 L of each solvent, which solvent would result in a solution with the highest pH?

How does the amount of solvation relate to pH? Are they saying that if a solvent isn't very good at solvating ions, the solute is more likely to ionize and therefore separate into more H+ which gives for a higher pH? Can someone please explain this to me?

pH is a measure of [H+] (hydrogen ion concentration). If nitric acid is better solvated it will release more H+ into solution and decrease the pH. The solution with the highest pH will be the least solvated and thus take place in the solvent with the lowest dielectric constant.

 

[w8ting2exhale]

I am seconding spyderracing32:

the better the solvent is, the more nitric acid will dissociate in it and release more H+ ions. It follows that [H+] = 10-pH so the higher the concentration of H+ ions, the lower the pH...the more acidic the solution. The highest pH coincides with the lowest H+ concentration, meaning with the solvent thats least likely to dissolve/dissociate nitric acid.