Ph level

Another important parameter that may affect a precipitate s solubility is the pH of the solution in which the precipitate forms. For example, hydroxide precipitates, such as Fe(OH)3, are more soluble at lower pH levels at which the concentration of OH is small. The effect of pH on solubility is not limited to hydroxide precipitates, but also affects precipitates containing basic or acidic ions. The solubility of Ca3(P04)2 is pH-dependent because phosphate is a weak base. The following four reactions, therefore, govern the solubility of Ca3(P04)2. 

In the overview to this chapter we noted that the experimentally determined end point should coincide with the titration s equivalence point. For an acid-base titration, the equivalence point is characterized by a pH level that is a function of the acid-base strengths and concentrations of the analyte and titrant. The pH at the end point, however, may or may not correspond to the pH at the equivalence point. To understand the relationship between end points and equivalence points we must know how the pH changes during a titration. In this section we will learn how to construct titration curves for several important types of acid-base titrations. Our... 

The pH range of an indicator does not have to be equally distributed on either side of the indicator s piQ. For some indicators only the weak acid or weak base is colored. For other indicators both the weak acid and weak base are colored, but one form may be easier to see. In either case, the pH range is skewed toward those pH levels for which the less colored form of the indicator is present in higher concentration. 

Ladder diagram showing the range of pH levels over which a typical acid-base indicator changes color. 

The first four values are for the carboxyl protons, and the remaining two values are for the ammonium protons. A ladder diagram for EDTA is shown in figure 9.26. The species Y becomes the predominate form of EDTA at pH levels greater than 10.17. It is only for pH levels greater than 12 that Y becomes the only significant form of EDTA. 

Conditional Metal—Ligand Formation Constants Recognizing EDTA s acid-base properties is important. The formation constant for CdY in equation 9.11 assumes that EDTA is present as Y . If we restrict the pH to levels greater than 12, then equation 9.11 provides an adequate description of the formation of CdY . for pH levels less than 12, however, K overestimates the stability of the CdY complex. 

The color intensity of the complex is stable between pH levels of 3 and 9. 

As with EDTA, which we encountered in Chapter 9, o-phenanthroline is a ligand possessing acid-base properties. The formation of the Fe(o-phen)3 + complex, therefore, is less favorable at lower pH levels, where o-phenanthroline is protonated. The result is a decrease in absorbance. When the pH is greater than 9, competition for Fe + between OH and o-phenanthroline also leads to a decrease in absorbance. In addition, if the pH is sufficiently basic there is a risk that the iron will precipitate as Fe(OH)2. 

Replacing Na20 and CaO with Li20 and BaO extends the useful pH range of glass membrane electrodes to pH levels greater than 12. 

This experiment describes the use of FIA for determining the stoichiometry of the Fe +-o-phenanthroline complex using the method of continuous variations and the mole-ratio method. Directions are also provided for determining the stoichiometry of the oxidation of ascorbic acid by dichromate and for determining the rate constant for the reaction at different pH levels and different concentration ratios of the reactants. 

There are occasions where the mud pH must be lowered such as after drilling fresh cement or overtreatment by one of the alkaline materials discussed. Organic acids that have been used for this purpose include acetic acid [64-19-7], citric acid [77-92-9], and oxaHc acid [144-62-7]. These materials are used infrequently. Inorganic additives used to lower pH levels include sodium bicarbonate [144-55-8] and sodium acid pyrophosphate [7758-16-9] (SAPP). Of the two, sodium bicarbonate is used the most by far. 

The inhibitory activity of sorbates is attributed to the undissociated acid molecule. The activity, therefore, depends on the pH of the substrate. The upper limit for activity is approximately pH 6.5 in moist appHcations the degree of activity increases as the pH decreases. The upper pH limit can be increased in low water activity systems. The following indicates the effect of pH on the dissociation of sorbic acid, ie, percentage of undissociated sorbic acid at various pH levels (76,77). 

Sulfamic acid is also used ia some dyeiag operations for pH adjustment however, it is useful in lowering pH levels in a variety of other systems. The low pH persists at elevated temperatures and there are no objectionable fumes. 

Control is achieved through feed of the proper type of phosphate either to raise or to lower the pH while maintaining the proper phosphate level. Increasing blowdown lowers both phosphate and pH. Therefore, various combinations and feedrates of phosphate, blowdown adjustment, and caustic addition are used to maintain proper phosphate—pH levels. 

The use of neutralising amines in conjunction with an oxygen scavenger—metal passivator improves corrosion control in two ways. First, because any acidic species present is neutralized and pH is increased, the condensate becomes less corrosive. Second, most oxygen scavenger—passivators react more rapidly at the mildly alkaline conditions maintained by the amine than at lower pH levels. For these reasons, this combination treatment is gaining wide acceptance, particularly for the treatment of condensate systems that are contaminated by oxygen. 

Silicates. For many years, siUcates have been used to inhibit aqueous corrosion, particularly in potable water systems. Probably due to the complexity of siUcate chemistry, their mechanism of inhibition has not yet been firmly estabUshed. They are nonoxidizing and require oxygen to inhibit corrosion, so they are not passivators in the classical sense. Yet they do not form visible precipitates on the metal surface. They appear to inhibit by an adsorption mechanism. It is thought that siUca and iron corrosion products interact. However, recent work indicates that this interaction may not be necessary. SiUcates are slow-acting inhibitors in some cases, 2 or 3 weeks may be required to estabUsh protection fully. It is beheved that the polysiUcate ions or coUoidal siUca are the active species and these are formed slowly from monosilicic acid, which is the predorninant species in water at the pH levels maintained in cooling systems. 

Neutralization Acidic or basic wastewaters must be neutrahzed prior to discharge. If an industry produces both acidic and basic wastes, these wastes may be mixed together at the proper rates to obtain neutral pH levels. Equahzation basins can be used as neutralization basins. When separate chemical neutralization is required, sodium hydroxide is the easiest base material to handle in a hquid form and can be used at various concentrations for in-line neutralization with a minimum of equipment. Yet, lime remains the most widely used base for acid neutr zation. Limestone is used when reaction rates are slow and considerable time is available for reaction. Siilfuric acid is the primary acid used to neutralize high-pH wastewaters unless calcium smfate might be precipitated as a resmt of the neutralization reaction. Hydrochloric acid can be used for neutrahzation of basic wastes if sulfuric acid is not acceptable. For very weak basic waste-waters carbon dioxide can be adequate for neutralization. 

Lime is somewhat different from the hydrolyzing coagulants. When added to wastewater it increases pH and reacts with the carbonate alkalinity to precipitate calcium carbonate. If sufficient lime is added to reach a high pH, approximately 10.5, magnesium hydroxide is also precipitated. This latter precipitation enhances clarification due to the flocculant nature of the Mg(OH)2. Excess calcium ions at high pH levels may be precipitated by the addition of soda ash. The preceding reactions are shown as follows ... 

Reduction of the resulting high pH levels may be accomplished in one or two stages. The first stage of the two-stage method results in the precipitation of... 

The effect of pH alone on chlorine efficiency is shown in Figure 3. Chlorine exists predominantly as HOCl at low PH levels. Between pH of 6.0 and 8.5, a dramatic change from undissociated to completely dissociated hypochlorous acid occurs. Above pH 7.5, hypochlorite ions prevail while above 9.5, chlorine exists almost entirely as OCl. Increased pH also diminishes the disinfecting efficiency of monochloramine. 

A major disadvantage of this system is the limitation of the single-pass gas-chlorination phase. Unless increased pressure is used, this equipment is unable to achieve higher concentrations of chlorine as an aid to a more complete and controllable reaction with the chlorite ion. The French have developed a variation of this process using a multiple-pass enrichment loop on the chlorinator to achieve a much higher concentration of chlorine and thereby quickly attain the optimum pH for maximum conversion to chlorine dioxide. By using a multiple-pass recirculation system, the chlorine solution concentrates to a level of 5-6 g/1. At this concentration, the pH of the solution reduces to 3.0 and thereby provides the low pH level necessary for efficient chlorine dioxide production. A single pass results in a chlorine concentration in water of about 1 g/1, which produces a pH of 4 to 5. If sodium chlorite solution is added at this pH, only about 60 percent yield of chlorine dioxide is achieved. The remainder is unreacted chlorine (in solution) and... 

The reaction requires the presence of slightly alkaline water and a temperature below 11 O F. If the gas does not contain sufficient water vapor, water may need to be injected into the inlet gas stream. Additionally, bed alkalinity should be checked daily. A pH level of 8-10 should be maintained through the injection of caustic soda with the water. 

The pH scale is widely used in biological applications because hydrogen ion concentrations in biological fluids are very low, about 10 M or 0.0000001 M, a value more easily represented as pH 7. The pH of blood plasma, for example, is 7.4 or 0.00000004 M H. Certain disease conditions may lower the plasma pH level to 6.8 or less, a situation that may result in death. At pH 6.8, the H concentration is 0.00000016 M, four times greater than at pH 7.4. 

It has been found that crude cyclandelate may be purified by the following procedure. Crude cyclandelate is dissolved in a solvent chosen for convenience from the class of saturated hydrocarbons. The crude cyclandelate solution is stirred for a suitable interval, typically 1 to 5 hours, with an aqueous solution of sodium borohydride (NaBI-14) at temperatures ranging from 25° to 65°C. The preferred temperature range is 40° to 50°C. The pH of the solution may be adjusted to any desired level in the range between 2.5 to 11.5. The preferred pH range is 8.0 to 11.0 because at lower pH levels borohydride is unstable... 

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