two Gen Chem 2 Questions

[Gold3nLily]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I keep getting different answers than the book...

1)Calculate the molar solubility of Al(OH)3 (ksp=2 x 10^-32)

I tried: ksp= [x][3x]^3
= 27x^4 = 2 x 10^-32
Then I solved for x to get 5.22 x 10^-9
but the answer should be 2 x 10^-11
What did I do wrong?

2) Same thing really... Calculate the molar solubility of Fe(OH)3 (ksp=4 x 10^-38) in water.

(answer: 4 x 10^-17)
I tried the same method as a the first problem and it wasn't right. I am missing something.

Thanks a bunch!!!

Gold3nLily

 

[UndergradGuy7]

First one looks right the way you did it.

Where are these problems from?

 

[Gold3nLily]

They are from my chemistry book. I though the answer in the back might have been wrong when I missed the first one, but after missing the next related one I didn't think it was probable for it to be the book's error.

Does the fact that one of the compounds dissociating in water is a really strong base have an effect here?

First one looks right the way you did it.

Where are these problems from?

 

[UndergradGuy7]

They are from my chemistry book. I though the answer in the back might have been wrong when I missed the first one, but after missing the next related one I didn't think it was probable for it to be the book's error.

Does the fact that one of the compounds dissociating in water is a really strong base have an effect here?

No, the way you did it right. Even if you try googling similar problems, you can find problems on school websites that do it the way you did it.

The book probably used a wrong ksp value or multiplied something wrong.

Edit:
I tried doing since it is in h2o then H+ = 1.0E-7 and OH- = 1.0E-7
So (x)(1.0E-7)^3 = Ksp
and x = 2 x 10^-11

Book is right. Ignore what I wrote in other post.

 

[Gold3nLily]

Oh, I see. It is a common ion problem.

That is weird because when it is Al(OH)2 instead of Al(OH)3 or Fe(OH)2 instead of Fe(OH)3 it is not a common ion problem but it is done the way I tried it before. I don't know why they are different, but I will just memorize it.

Thank you so much, I feel so much better now that this is figured out!

Gold3nLily

"Edit:
I tried doing since it is in h2o then H+ = 1.0E-7 and OH- = 1.0E-7
So (x)(1.0E-7)^3 = Ksp
and x = 2 x 10^-11"

 

[UndergradGuy7]

I don't know that is kind of confusing. Maybe it has to say "in water," but it doesn't?

Anyone else have comments on this?

 

[evanyou]

Oh, I see. It is a common ion problem.

That is weird because when it is Al(OH)2 instead of Al(OH)3 or Fe(OH)2 instead of Fe(OH)3 it is not a common ion problem but it is done the way I tried it before. I don't know why they are different, but I will just memorize it.

Thank you so much, I feel so much better now that this is figured out!

Gold3nLily

"Edit:
I tried doing since it is in h2o then H+ = 1.0E-7 and OH- = 1.0E-7
So (x)(1.0E-7)^3 = Ksp
and x = 2 x 10^-11"

Can you provide Ksp of Al(OH)2 and Fe(OH)2?
I am just guessing that if those two have have relatively larger ksp, the common ion effect of [OH] 1.0e-7 can be ignored.