Questions: In which of the following aqueous solutions would you expect AgBr to have the lowest solubility?
A) 0.15 M KBr
B) pure water
C) 0.10 M AgNO3
D) 0.10 M LiBr
E) 0.20 M NaBr
Transcript text: In which of the following aqueous solutions would you expect AgBr to have the lowest solubility?
A) 0.15 M KBr
B) pure water
C) 0.10 M AgNO3
D) 0.10 M LiBr
E) 0.20 M NaBr
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Understanding Solubility and Common Ion Effect
The solubility of a salt like AgBr in a solution is affected by the presence of common ions. The common ion effect states that the solubility of a salt decreases in a solution that contains a common ion. In this case, the common ion is Br⁻.
Step 2: Analyzing Each Option
Option A (0.15 M KBr): Contains Br⁻ ions, which will decrease the solubility of AgBr due to the common ion effect.
Option B (pure water): No common ions present, so AgBr will have its normal solubility.
Option C (0.10 M AgNO₃): Contains Ag⁺ ions, which will also decrease the solubility of AgBr due to the common ion effect.
Option D (0.10 M LiBr): Contains Br⁻ ions, which will decrease the solubility of AgBr due to the common ion effect.
Option E (0.20 M NaBr): Contains Br⁻ ions, which will decrease the solubility of AgBr due to the common ion effect. This solution has the highest concentration of Br⁻ ions among the options.
Step 3: Determining the Lowest Solubility
The solubility of AgBr will be lowest in the solution with the highest concentration of the common ion, Br⁻. Among the options, 0.20 M NaBr (Option E) has the highest concentration of Br⁻ ions.