If the pKaof HCHO2is 3.74 and the pH of an HCHO2/NaCHO2solution is 3.11, which of the following is true? A. [HCHO2] < [NaCHO2]
B. [HCHO2] = [NaCHO2]
C. [HCHO2] << [NaCHO2]
D. [HCHO2] > [NaCHO2]
E. It is not possible to make a buffer of this pH from HCHO2 and NaCHO2

D. [HCHO₂] > [NaCHO₂]

Explanation:

Formic acid, HCHO₂, is a weak acid that, in presence of its conjugate base, NaCHO₂ (CHO₂⁻), produce a buffer following H-H equation:

pH = pKa + log [CHO₂⁻] / [HCHO₂]

As pKa of the acid is 3.74 and pH of the solution is 3.11:

3.11 = 3.74 + log [CHO₂⁻] / [HCHO₂]

-0.63 = log [CHO₂⁻] / [HCHO₂]

0.2344 = [CHO₂⁻] / [HCHO₂]

A ratio [CHO₂⁻] / [HCHO₂] < 1, means:

answer: - 3.) the oxidation state of nitrogen in no changes from +2 to 0, and the oxidation state of carbon in co changes from +2 to +4 as the reaction proceeds.

solution: - as per the rules, oxidation number of oxygen in its compounds is -2. the sum of oxidation numbers of all the elements of a molecule or compound is zero.

also, the oxidation number in elemental form is zero.

in no, the oxidation number of o is -2 so the oxidation number of n is +2 so that the sum is zero.

similarly, the oxidation number of c in co is +2 and o is -2.

on product side the oxidation number of n is 0 as it is in the elemental form() .

oxidation number of c in carbon dioxide is +4 as there are two oxygen in it and we know that each oxygen is -2.

so, oxidation number of n is changing from +2 to 0 and the oxidation number of c is changing from +2 to +4.

since nitrogen is reduced and hence no is acting as an oxidizing agent. carbon is oxidized and so co is acting as a reducing agent.

so, the right choice is number 3.)the oxidation state of nitrogen in no changes from +2 to 0, and the oxidation state of carbon in co changes from +2 to +4 as the reaction proceeds.

"among the transition metal elements, manganese and zinc have a slight lowering of electronegativities. the reason behind this is that the nuclear charges of these elements are slightly weaker than the other transition metal elements due to the way their valence electrons are filled up. both manganese and zinc have their valence electrons filled up to the 4th shell with 1 pair of electrons (4s2) completely occupying it. although the electrons in the 3rd shell (3d) are yet to be paired since the outer most shell is filled up, the ability of the nucleus to attract electrons is lessened. hence,   the electronegativity (or the ability to attract electrons) is lessened."