Question

Mention the steps involved in ionization of phosphoric acid.

Short answer

Question: Describe the ionization of phosphoric acid in terms of the protons released and the products formed. Answer: The ionization of phosphoric acid occurs in three steps. In each step, a proton is released, forming different phosphate ions and hydronium ions. The products of the ionization process are dihydrogen phosphate ion (H2PO4^-), hydrogen phosphate ion (HPO4^2-), phosphate ion (PO4^3-), and hydronium ions (H3O+).

Step-by-step solution

First proton release

In the first step, phosphoric acid (H3PO4) donates one proton (H+) to form dihydrogen phosphate ion (H2PO4-) and a hydronium ion (H3O+). The chemical equation for this step can be written as: H3PO4(aq) + H2O(l) -> H2PO4^-(aq) + H3O^+(aq)

Second proton release

In the second step, the dihydrogen phosphate ion (H2PO4-) from step 1 donates another proton (H+) to form hydrogen phosphate ion (HPO4^2-) and a hydronium ion (H3O+). The chemical equation for this step can be written as: H2PO4^-(aq) + H2O(l) -> HPO4^2-(aq) + H3O^+(aq)

Third proton release

In the third and final step, the hydrogen phosphate ion (HPO4^2-) from step 2 donates its last proton (H+) to form phosphate ion (PO4^3-) and a hydronium ion (H3O+). The chemical equation for this step can be written as: HPO4^2-(aq) + H2O(l) -> PO4^3-(aq) + H3O^+(aq) To summarize, the ionization of phosphoric acid occurs in three steps. In each step, a proton is released forming different phosphate ions and hydronium ions. The products of the ionization process are dihydrogen phosphate ion (H2PO4^-), hydrogen phosphate ion (HPO4^2-), phosphate ion (PO4^3-), and hydronium ions (H3O+).