The natural logarithm of the of is plotted below as a function of the reciprocal of the absolute temperature. Which statements are correct?
I. The pH of a 0.100 M solution of increases as the temperature is raised.
II. for the acid dissociation of ammonium ion is positive.
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Explanation
draftSetting up the van't Hoff relation
For the equilibrium , thermodynynamics gives:
This is a straight line in vs. , with slope and y-intercept .
Reading the graph
The plotted line has a negative slope, so , meaning : the dissociation of is endothermic. Endothermic dissociation means increases as increases (since as increases, decreases, and with a negative slope the line moves up to higher ).
Statement I
Because increases with temperature, a 0.100 M solution dissociates more at higher , producing more . This makes the solution more acidic, so pH decreases, not increases, as rises. Statement I is false.
Statement II
The y-intercept of the graph () for this reaction is negative — extrapolating the line to gives a negative intercept. This reflects the fact that although one mole of ions/molecules becomes two, the reaction converts a charged, highly hydrated () species and forms (also strongly hydrated) plus neutral ; the increased ordering of solvent water around the separated charges outweighs the increase in translational entropy from more particles. Thus is actually negative, not positive. Statement II is false.
Conclusion: Neither I nor II is correct — answer (D).
Assumes only statement I is true — mistakenly reasons that because increases with , the solution becomes less acidic (confusing more dissociation with less acid strength), overlooking that more produced means lower pH.
Assumes only statement II is true — incorrectly reasons that since the reaction produces more particles (2 species from 1), must be positive, ignoring the strong solvent-ordering (hydration) effects around the separated charges that make negative here.
Assumes both statements are correct — combines both errors above: misinterpreting the slope's effect on pH direction and assuming particle count alone determines the sign of , rather than reading the graph's intercept correctly.
Correct: the negative slope shows , so rises with , meaning pH falls (not rises) as increases, ruling out I; and the negative intercept shows due to solvent reorganization around the separating charges, ruling out II.
USNCO 2018 National Part I exam, question 23. © American Chemical Society; reproduced for non-commercial practice.