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In aqueous solution the ionization constants for carbonic acid are
$K_1 = 4.2 \times 10^{-7}$ and $K_2 = 4.8 \times 10^{-11}$
Select the correct statement for a saturated $0.034\, M$ solution of the carbonic acid.
The concentration of $CO_3^{2-}$ is $0.034\, M.$
The concentration of $CO_3^{2-}$ is greater than that of $HCO_3^-.$
The concentrations of $H^+$ and $HCO_3^-$ are approximately equal.
The concentration of $H^+$ is double that of $CO_3^{2-}.$
Solution
$H_{2} C O_{3}(a q)+H_{2} O(l) \rightleftharpoons H C O_{3}(a q)+H_{3} O_{x}^{+}(a q)$
$\quad 0.034-x\quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad x\quad \quad \quad \quad \quad x$
$K_{1}=\frac{\left.\left[H C O_{3}^{-}\right] | H_{3} O^{+}\right]}{\left|H_{2} C O_{3}\right|}$
$=\frac{x \times x}{0.034-x}$
$\Rightarrow 4.2 \times 10^{-7}=\frac{x^{2}}{0.034}$
$\Rightarrow x=1.195 \times 10^{-4}$
As $H_{2} C O_{3}$ is a weak acid so the concentration of
$H_{2} C O_{3}$ will remain 0.034 as $0.034>>x$
$x=\left[H^{+}\right]=\left[H C O_{3}\right]$
$=1.195 \times 10^{-4}$
Now, $H C O_{3}(a q)+H_{2} O(l) \rightleftharpoons C O_{3_{y}}^{2-}(a q)+H_{3} O_{y}^{+}(a q)$
As $H C O_{3}$ is again a weak acid (weaker than $H_{2} C O_{3}$ )
with $x>>y$
$K_{2}=\frac{\left[c o_{3}^{2}\right]\left|H_{3} O^{+}\right|}{\left[H C o_{3}\right]}$
$=\frac{y \times(x+y)}{(x-y)}$
Note : $\left[H_{3} O^{+}\right]=H^{+}$ from first step $(x)$ and from second step $(y)=(x+y)$
$[\text { As } x>>y \text { so } x+y \simeq x \text { and } x-y \simeq x]$
So, $K_{2} \simeq \frac{y \times x}{x}=y$
$\Rightarrow K_{2}=4.8 \times 10^{-11}$
$y=y=\left[C O_{3}^{2}\right]$
So the concentration of $\left[H^{+}\right]=\left[H C O_{3}^{-}\right]=$ concentrations obtained from the first step. As the dissociation will be very low in second step so there will be no change in these concentrations. Thus the final concentrations are $\left[H^{+}\right]=\left[H C O_{3}^{-}\right]=1.195 \times 10^{-4}$
$\left[\mathrm{CO}_{3}^{2-}\right]=4.8 \times 10^{-11}$