A solution is prepared that is 0.55M in phosphoric acid(Ka1=7.1x10^-3,Ka2=6.3x10^-8, Ka3=4.3x10-13). Find the [H3O][OH]ph andpOH.
So I attempted it, but something seems off. Here is my attempt. I used ICE
H3PO4 + H20 <>H3) + H2PO4 H2PO4 + H2O <> H3O + hpo4 HPO4 + H2O<> H3O + PO4
H3PO4 H30 HCO
I .55 0 0
C -X +X +X
E (.55-X) x X
Ka1 = 7.1x10^-3= [H3O][HCO3]/H2PO4)=x^2/(.55-x)= -x^2 + -7.1x10^-3 + 3.9x10^-3
insert in the quadratic:
and I get this
7.1x10-3 +- .125/1.42x10^-2 = p.31 for + and -8.31 for-
use 9.31=[H30]
ph=-log[H3O]=-.97
and that is where I stopped, it just doesn't seem right for my pH to be a negative number???