titration problems on MCAT

[luv2sd]

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how complicated are titration problems on MCAT?

something like adding a strong acid or a base to a buffer and finding the change in pH of the buffer? so... if I add a strong base like NaOH to a buffer

pH = pKa + log (moles of base + moles of NaOH added)/(moles of acid - moles of NaOH added)

and calculate new pH

will there be a problem like this on MCAT? I know it's not hard but I'm just wondering how much calculation is required in chemistry section of MCAT

 

[doytch]

the concepts you listed on your post sound like mcat topics. there is some calculation in the physical sciences mainly b/c of physics. when i took the mcat, i just got a hard version that required long calculations.

 

[paranoid_eyes]

i pray that i will never see polyprotic (like amino acids) titration problems😱

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

how complicated are titration problems on MCAT?

something like adding a strong acid or a base to a buffer and finding the change in pH of the buffer? so... if I add a strong base like NaOH to a buffer

pH = pKa + log (moles of base + moles of NaOH added)/(moles of acid - moles of NaOH added)

and calculate new pH

will there be a problem like this on MCAT? I know it's not hard but I'm just wondering how much calculation is required in chemistry section of MCAT

That seems right up there alley. Keep in mind that even though it's a calculation question, you can probably solve it with little to no math beyond the setup. In such a case, the pH would have to increase upon the addition of NaOH, so that could very well eliminate a couple lower value choices. Because it's a log scale, the pH will not increase by much (as long as you are stillwithin the buffering region), so the best answer will likely be a small increase from the initial value.

Thereare definitely cases of questions that look like they are calculations at first glance that can be solved using intuition much faster.