valence
Practice
ThermodynamicsNational 2018

The natural logarithm of the KaK_\text{a} of NHX4X+\ce{NH4+} 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 NHX4NOX3\ce{NH4NO3} increases as the temperature is raised.

II. ΔS∘\Delta S^\circ for the acid dissociation of ammonium ion is positive.

15% of national qualifiers got this right

Explanation

draft

Setting up the van't Hoff relation

For the equilibrium NHX4X+⇌NHX3+HX+\ce{NH4+ <=> NH3 + H+}, thermodynynamics gives:

ln⁡Ka=−ΔH∘R(1T)+ΔS∘R\ln K_a = -\dfrac{\Delta H^\circ}{R}\left(\dfrac{1}{T}\right) + \dfrac{\Delta S^\circ}{R}

This is a straight line in ln⁡Ka\ln K_a vs. 1/T1/T, with slope =−ΔH∘/R= -\Delta H^\circ/R and y-intercept =ΔS∘/R=\Delta S^\circ/R.

Reading the graph

The plotted line has a negative slope, so −ΔH∘/R<0-\Delta H^\circ/R < 0, meaning ΔH∘>0\Delta H^\circ > 0: the dissociation of NHX4X+\ce{NH4+} is endothermic. Endothermic dissociation means KaK_a increases as TT increases (since as TT increases, 1/T1/T decreases, and with a negative slope the line moves up to higher ln⁡Ka\ln K_a).

Statement I

Because KaK_a increases with temperature, a 0.100 M NHX4NOX3\ce{NH4NO3} solution dissociates more at higher TT, producing more HX+\ce{H+}. This makes the solution more acidic, so pH decreases, not increases, as TT rises. Statement I is false.

Statement II

The y-intercept of the graph (=ΔS∘/R=\Delta S^\circ/R) for this reaction is negative — extrapolating the line to 1/T→01/T \to 0 gives a negative ln⁡Ka\ln K_a intercept. This reflects the fact that although one mole of ions/molecules becomes two, the reaction converts a charged, highly hydrated (NHX4X+\ce{NH4+}) species and forms HX+\ce{H+} (also strongly hydrated) plus neutral NHX3\ce{NH3}; the increased ordering of solvent water around the separated charges outweighs the increase in translational entropy from more particles. Thus ΔS∘\Delta S^\circ is actually negative, not positive. Statement II is false.

Conclusion: Neither I nor II is correct — answer (D).

A

Assumes only statement I is true — mistakenly reasons that because KaK_a increases with TT, the solution becomes less acidic (confusing more dissociation with less acid strength), overlooking that more HX+\ce{H+} produced means lower pH.

B

Assumes only statement II is true — incorrectly reasons that since the reaction produces more particles (2 species from 1), ΔS∘\Delta S^\circ must be positive, ignoring the strong solvent-ordering (hydration) effects around the separated charges that make ΔS∘\Delta S^\circ negative here.

C

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 ΔS∘\Delta S^\circ, rather than reading the graph's intercept correctly.

D

Correct: the negative slope shows ΔH∘>0\Delta H^\circ>0, so KaK_a rises with TT, meaning pH falls (not rises) as TT increases, ruling out I; and the negative intercept shows ΔS∘<0\Delta S^\circ<0 due to solvent reorganization around the separating charges, ruling out II.

Concept · van't Hoff plot: thermodynamics of NH4+ acid dissociation

USNCO 2018 National Part I exam, question 23. © American Chemical Society; reproduced for non-commercial practice.