Finding the concentration of HCOOH.

I was just wondering if I'm allowed to use the statement of "one mole of acid reacts with one mole of base, so the equivalence point is reached when the moles of base equal the moles of acid" in order to calculate the concentration of HCOOH? This deals with the titration of formic acid with sodium hydroxide. Thank you!

Question

Finding the concentration of HCOOH.

I was just wondering if I'm allowed to use the statement of "one mole of acid reacts with one mole of base, so the equivalence point is reached when the moles of base equal the moles of acid" in order to calculate the concentration of HCOOH? This deals with the titration of formic acid with sodium hydroxide. Thank you!

anonymous · Answer

You're making a statement of the stoichiometry of the reaction, which is conveyed by the balanced chemical equation.  Write the balanced chemical equation.  Then you'll KNOW how many moles of acid react with each mole of base.

preetha · Answer

Yes. You can say it like that.

anonymous · Answer

Sam, you are mistaken.  Formic acid is reacting not with water (as in the dissociation problem about which you are thinking), but with a strong base (OH-).  Weak acids will react completely with strong bases.