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2020 O Level Chem P1 Q33 — Acids and Bases / Ions in Solution Solution

Acids and Bases / Ions in Solution 2020 O Level Pure Chemistry · Paper 1 · Q33

Question

Each of the following solutions has a concentration of 1 mol/dm³. Which solution contains the greatest number of ions in 1 dm³ of solution?
  1. Aethanoic acid
  2. Bethanol
  3. Csodium hydroxide
  4. Dsulfuric acid
Correct answer: D

Video Solution

Explanation

Answer: D (sulfuric acid). The question compares the number of ions released per mole when each substance is dissolved. Sulfuric acid is a strong acid that fully ionises, giving three ions per formula unit: \(\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 \to 2\text{H}^+ + \text{SO}_4^{2-}\), so 1 mol gives 3 mol of ions. Sodium hydroxide is a strong base that fully ionises into two ions, Na⁺ and OH⁻, so 1 mol gives only 2 mol of ions.

Ethanoic acid is a weak acid that only partially ionises, so it releases relatively few ions. Ethanol is a covalent molecule that does not ionise at all, producing essentially no ions.

At the same 1 mol/dm³ concentration, sulfuric acid releases the greatest number of ions, so the answer is D.

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