Chem 201 Lecture 17:

Equilibria of slightly soluble ionic

compounds
Textbook: Ch. 19
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Presentations used to prepare this lecture:

1) by J. David Robertson (University of Missouri)
What drives solubility?

Crystal lattice energy

vs.
solvation energy and enthropy
 Solubility of solids
Some solids are only slightly soluble (very
little dissolves in water).
What does dissolve behaves as a strong
electrolyte (100% dissociation).
Solutions become saturated and solid may
remain at bottom of container.
Can solubility be manipulated?
Yes (common ion effect)
 Solubility Equilibria
Solubility of a solid treated as with other
equilibria. Solution is saturated. No more solid
will dissolve since dynamic equilibrium.
AgCl(s) Ag+(aq) + Cl(aq) Ksp = [Ag+][Cl]

Solid not included in the equilibrium expression.

AyBz(s) yA+p(aq)+zBq(aq) Ksp=[M+p]y[Xq]z
where Ksp = solubility product.

Ksp can be determined if the solubility is known

and vice versa
 Solubility equilibria

AyBz(s) yA+p(aq)+ zBq(aq)

Ksp=[A+p]y[Bq]z

Ksp solubility product

Sample Problem 19.4 Writing Ion-Product Expressions for Slightly
Soluble Ionic Compounds

PROBLEM: Write the ion-product expression for each of the following:

(a) Magnesium carbonate (b) Iron (II) hydroxide
(c) Calcium phosphate (d) Silver sulfide

PLAN: Write an equation which describes a saturated solution. Take

note of the sulfide ion produced in part (d).
SOLUTION:
(a) MgCO3(s) Mg2+(aq) + CO32-(aq) Ksp = [Mg2+][CO32-]
(b) Fe(OH)2(s) Fe2+(aq) + 2OH- (aq) Ksp = [Fe2+][OH-] 2
(c) Ca3(PO4)2(s) 3Ca2+(aq) + 2PO43-(aq) Ksp = [Ca2+]3[PO43-]2

(d) Ag2S(s) 2Ag+(aq) + S2-(aq)

S2-(aq) + H2O(l) HS-(aq) + OH-(aq) Ksp = [Ag+]2[HS-][OH-]

Ag2S(s) + H2O(l) 2Ag+(aq) + HS-(aq) + OH-(aq)
Sample Problem 19.5 Determining Ksp from Solubility

PROBLEM: (a) Lead (II) sulfate is a key component in lead-acid car batteries.
Its solubility in water at 250C is 4.25x10-3g/100mL solution. What is
the Ksp of PbSO4?
(b) When lead (II) fluoride (PbF2) is shaken with pure water at 250C,
the solubility is found to be 0.64g/L. Calculate the Ksp of PbF2.
PLAN: Write the dissolution equation; find moles of dissociated ions;
convert solubility to M and substitute values into solubility product
constant expression.

SOLUTION: (a) PbSO4(s) Pb2+(aq) + SO42-(aq) Ksp = [Pb2+][SO42-]

4.25x10-3g 1000mL mol PbSO4

= 1.40x10-4M PbSO4 (molar s)
100mL soln L 303.3g PbSO4
Ksp = [Pb2+][SO42-] =ss= (1.40x10-4)2 = 1.96x10-8
Sample Problem 19.5 Determining Ksp from Solubility

continued

(b) PbF2(s) Pb2+(aq) + 2F-(aq) Ksp = [Pb2+][F-]2

0.64g mol PbF2

= 2.6x10-3 M
L soln 245.2g PbF2

Ksp = s(2s)2= (2.610-3)(5.210-3)2 = 7.010-8

Table 19.2 Solubility-Product Constants (Ksp) of Selected Ionic
Compounds at 250C

Name, Formula Ksp

Aluminum hydroxide, Al(OH)3 3 x 10-34

Cobalt (II) carbonate, CoCO3 1.0 x 10-10

Iron (II) hydroxide, Fe(OH)2 4.1 x 10-15

Lead (II) fluoride, PbF2 3.6 x 10-8

Lead (II) sulfate, PbSO4 1.6 x 10-8

Mercury (I) iodide, Hg2I2 4.7 x 10-29

Silver sulfide, Ag2S 8 x 10-48

Zinc iodate, Zn(IO3)2 3.9 x 10-6

Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
 Table 19.3 Relationship Between Ksp and Solubility at 250C

No. of Ions Formula Cation:Anion Ksp Solubility (M)

2 MgCO3 1:1 3.5 x 10-8 1.9 x 10-4

2 PbSO4 1:1 1.6 x 10-8 1.3 x 10-4

2 BaCrO4 1:1 2.1 x 10-10 1.4 x 10-5

3 Ca(OH)2 1:2 5.5 x 10-6 1.2 x 10-2

3 BaF2 1:2 1.5 x 10-6 7.2 x 10-3

3 CaF2 1:2 3.2 x 10-11 2.0 x 10-4

3 Ag2CrO4 2:1 2.6 x 10-12 8.7 x 10-5

Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.