The following cell was constructed to fi nd the difference in Ksp between two naturally occurring forms of CaCO₃(s), called calcite and aragonite.

Each compartment of the cell contains a mixture of solid PbCO₃ (Ksp = 7.4 × 10^-14) and either calcite or aragonite, both of which have Ksp < 5 × 10^-9. Each solution was buffered to pH 7.00 with an inert buffer, and the cell was completely isolated from atmospheric CO₂. The measured cell voltage was 21.8 mV. Find the ratio of solubility products, Ksp (for calcite)/Ksp (for aragonite)

Transcribed Image Text:

Pb(s)|PBCO3|CaCO,(s, calcite) |buffer(pH 7.00)|| buffer(pH 7.00)|CaCO3(s, aragonite)|PÞCO3(s)|Pb(s)