Sciencemadness Discussion Board

PbSO4 dissolution equilibrium

frogfot - 13-2-2005 at 13:57

Some time ago I've calculated how much PbSO4 can dissolve in dilute H2SO4, but now I'm not sure if result is right.. Anyone have time to help?..

So, I have 20% H2SO4, which corresponds to 0,01014 M SO4-- and 2,31 M HSO4-. Nothing could be wrong sofar..

When we add solid PbSO4 we will get following equilibria (anion conc shouldn't change due to small Pb conc):

PbSO4 <==> Pb++ + SO4-- (Ksp = 1,6E-8 at 25oC)

Pb(HSO4)2 <==> Pb++ + 2HSO4- (Ksp = 1,4E-16 at 18oC)

(Temp difference is neglected)

So, here comes the problem.. The way I did it was multiplying together the equilibria equations below:

1,6E-8 = [Pb++]*[SO4--]
1,4E-16 = [Pb++]*[HSO4-]2 (**)

To get following:
2,24E-24 = [Pb++]2*[SO4--]*[HSO4-]2

Typing in SO4-- and HSO4- concentrations in "combined" equation above I got Pb conc of 6,43E-12 M.

Then one could think, since conc of HSO4- is much bigger than SO4--, maby equilibrium could be better described by equation ** ?
That is [Pb++] = 1,4E-16/2,31*2,31 = 2,62E-17 M.

So what would be more correct? Thanks for the time.

EDIT: darn superscripts doesn't work..

[Edited on 13-2-2005 by frogfot]