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HSC Stuff => HSC Science Stuff => HSC Subjects + Help => HSC Chemistry => Topic started by: Jefferson on November 05, 2019, 07:59:19 pm

Title: Conductivity Graph
Post by: Jefferson on November 05, 2019, 07:59:19 pm
Source: additional NESA sample questions
https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/wcm/connect/59826472-38f1-4ed7-8c8a-a3bb42842fd1/chemistry-2019-additional-sample-hsc-questions.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=

For Nesa's graph below, why is the conductivity initially increasing even before the equivalence point?
My understanding is that the concentration of ions would first decrease until equivalence point (H+ reacts with OH- to form H2O), then after there will be excess base molecules and thus OH- ions, hence conductivity should only increase AFTER equivalence point. This aligns with attachment 4.

Attachments:
1. Question part (a)
2. Question part (b)
3. Graph answer part (b)
4. ConquerHSC weak acid + strong base
Title: Re: Conductivity Graph
Post by: louisaaa01 on November 05, 2019, 08:16:31 pm
Source: additional NESA sample questions
https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/wcm/connect/59826472-38f1-4ed7-8c8a-a3bb42842fd1/chemistry-2019-additional-sample-hsc-questions.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=

For Nesa's graph below, why is the conductivity initially increasing even before the equivalence point?
My understanding is that the concentration of ions would first decrease until equivalence point (H+ reacts with OH- to form H2O), then after there will be excess base molecules and thus OH- ions, hence conductivity should only increase AFTER equivalence point. This aligns with attachment 4.

Attachments:
1. Question part (a)
2. Question part (b)
3. Graph answer part (b)
4. ConquerHSC weak acid + strong base

Hi Jefferson,

To my understanding, conductivity increases from the outset because citric acid, being a weak triprotic acid, will continue to dissociate as base is added (the dissociation equilibrium shifts to the right as base is added, by Le Chatelier's Principle, producing additional H+ and C6H5O73-) - this increases the concentration of ions in the solution, thus conductivity rises. However, since neutralisation is still taking place, and water is formed, the gradient will be lower compared to that beyond equivalence.

It is indeed a confusing concept as your graph, in addition to being from Conquer HSC, also aligns perfectly with what the Chemistry in Focus textbook suggests. I'm not sure how such a discrepancy would be dealt with at the Marking Centre.
Title: Re: Conductivity Graph
Post by: Jefferson on November 09, 2019, 01:24:05 pm
Hi Jefferson,

To my understanding, conductivity increases from the outset because citric acid, being a weak triprotic acid, will continue to dissociate as base is added (the dissociation equilibrium shifts to the right as base is added, by Le Chatelier's Principle, producing additional H+ and C6H5O73-) - this increases the concentration of ions in the solution, thus conductivity rises. However, since neutralisation is still taking place, and water is formed, the gradient will be lower compared to that beyond equivalence.

It is indeed a confusing concept as your graph, in addition to being from Conquer HSC, also aligns perfectly with what the Chemistry in Focus textbook suggests. I'm not sure how such a discrepancy would be dealt with at the Marking Centre.

Thank you,
That makes sense! :)