The equilibrium constant for the reaction of formic acid and sodium hydroxide is 1.8 × 10¹⁰ (page 726). Confirm this value.

Data given on Page 726

Consider the reaction of the naturally occurring weak acid formic acid, HCO₂H, with sodium hydroxide. The net ionic equation is

In this reaction, OH⁻ is a much stronger base than HCO₂⁻ (K_b = 5.6 × 10⁻¹¹), and the reaction is predicted to proceed to the right. If equal amounts of weak acid and base are mixed, the final solution will contain sodium formate (NaHCO₂), a salt that is 100% dissociated in water. The Na₊ ion is a Group IA cation and so gives a neutral solution. The formate ion, however, is the conjugate base of a weak acid (Table 16.2), so the solution is basic. 

Transcribed Image Text:

HCOH(aq) + OH-(aq) M H0 () + HCO (aq)