QuestionWhich of the following is the correct expression for the of ?
Studdy Solution
STEP 1
What is this asking? Which expression correctly shows how much magnesium carbonate dissolves in a solution? Watch out! Don't mix up the *K*sp expression with other equilibrium expressions! *K*sp is specifically for how much a solid dissolves.
STEP 2
1. Understand *K*sp
2. Write the balanced dissolution equation
3. Build the *K*sp expression
STEP 3
*K*sp, the **solubility product constant**, tells us how much a solid dissolves into its ions in a saturated solution.
A bigger *K*sp means more dissolving!
It's like a popularity contest for dissolved ions!
STEP 4
*K*sp is all about **equilibrium**.
When the solid is dissolving as fast as the ions are coming back together, we've hit equilibrium, and *K*sp describes that balance.
STEP 5
We're dealing with magnesium carbonate, MgCO3.
When it dissolves, it breaks into its ions: magnesium, Mg2+, and carbonate, CO32−.
STEP 6
The balanced equation looks like this:
See? One magnesium carbonate breaks down into one magnesium ion and one carbonate ion.
Perfectly balanced, as all things should be!
STEP 7
The *K*sp expression is built by multiplying the concentrations of the dissolved ions, each raised to the power of its coefficient in the balanced equation.
STEP 8
From our balanced equation, both Mg2+ and CO32− have a coefficient of **1**.
So, our *K*sp expression is:
We don't include the solid MgCO3 in the *K*sp expression because its concentration is constant.
STEP 9
Since anything raised to the power of 1 is just itself, we can simplify to:
STEP 10
The correct expression for the *K*sp of MgCO3 is , which is the first option.
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