A concentrated nitric acid cleaning bath contains 150 g of HNO₃ per liter of solution…
CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · A Level · Chemistry · Acids and bases · Acids and bases
Problem
A concentrated nitric acid cleaning bath contains 150 g of HNO₃ per liter of solution at 25 °C. Assume that the acid behaves as a strong monoprotic acid and that volume changes upon dissolution are negligible.
(a) Determine the molarity of HNO₃ in the cleaning bath. Show all unit conversions clearly.
(b) Calculate the pH of the solution, including appropriate significant figures in your answer.
(c) The calculated pH in part (b) does not fall within the 0–14 range often cited for aqueous solutions. Provide a brief explanation, grounded in quantitative reasoning, for why such an outcome is chemically reasonable.