NVAEasyJEE 2023Concentration Terms (Molarity, Molality, etc.)

JEE Chemistry 2023 Question with Solution

An analyst wants to convert 1L1 \, \text{L} HCl of pH=1\text{pH} = 1 to a solution of HCl of pH=2\text{pH} = 2. The volume of water needed to do this dilution is _____ mL\text{mL}. (Nearest Integer)

Answer

Correct answer:9000

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Initial volume is 1L1 \, \text{L} and the HCl solution changes from pH=1\text{pH} = 1 to pH=2\text{pH} = 2.

Find: The volume of water to be added in mL\text{mL}.

From the solution:

M1=10(pH=1, concentration of HCl)M_1 = 10 \quad (\text{pH} = 1, \text{ concentration of HCl}) M2=102(pH=2, concentration of HCl)M_2 = 10^{-2} \quad (\text{pH} = 2, \text{ concentration of HCl}) V1=1LV_1 = 1 \, \text{L}

Using the dilution formula:

(M1×V1)=(M2×V2)(M_1 \times V_1) = (M_2 \times V_2) 10×1=102×V210 \times 1 = 10^{-2} \times V_2 V2=10L=10000mLV_2 = 10 \, \text{L} = 10000 \, \text{mL}

Thus, water added is

100001000=9000mL10000 - 1000 = 9000 \, \text{mL}

Therefore, the required volume of water is 90009000.

Dilution Idea

Given: The pH changes from 11 to 22 for 1L1 \, \text{L} of HCl.

Find: Water added.

Quick Tip: For dilution, the product of concentration and volume remains constant. You can solve it using the dilution equation.

A change in pH from 11 to 22 means the acid concentration becomes one-tenth of its initial value. Therefore, the final volume becomes 1010 times the initial volume:

V2=10L=10000mLV_2 = 10 \, \text{L} = 10000 \, \text{mL}

Initial volume is 1000mL1000 \, \text{mL}, so water added is

100001000=9000mL10000 - 1000 = 9000 \, \text{mL}

Therefore, the answer is 90009000.

Common mistakes

  • Using the final volume itself as the water added. This is wrong because V2V_2 is the total diluted volume, not the extra water volume. Subtract the initial 1000mL1000 \, \text{mL} from the final volume.

  • Confusing pH with concentration directly. This is wrong because pH is logarithmic, so increasing pH by 11 reduces [H+][\text{H}^+] by a factor of 1010. First convert pH to concentration, then apply dilution.

Practice more Concentration Terms (Molarity, Molality, etc.) questions

Get unlimited AI-adaptive practice, mastery tracking, and an AI tutor that explains every step — free to start.

Related questions