Question

Sodium phosphate is commonly found in processed meat and tuna. Calculate the concentration of sodium ions in a solution of .456 M sodium phosphate.

Answer 1

@CShrix

Answer 2

@matt101

Answer 3

What's the chemical formula for sodium phosphate?

Answer 4

Na3(PO4)

Answer 5

Right. Now when you dissolve an ionic compound in water such as sodium phosphate, its ions all split apart (dissociate) so that they're freely floating around in the solution.

Each unit of sodium phosphate has 3 sodium ions in it according to the chemical formula you provided. That means if you started with 0.456 M of sodium phosphate, your concentration of sodium ions that is produced will be three times greater. What will it be?

Answer 6

1.368

Answer 7

You got it

Answer 8

It's that easy?

Answer 9

Yup, for an ionic compound that pretty much completely dissociates.

For compounds that do not completely dissociate, it's somewhat more complicated, but I don't think you're at that stage yet!

Answer 10

Nah. Thanks for the help!