Question

Consider the ionization of formic acid, HCOOH (pK = 3.75):

HCOOH <------------> HCOO^- + H⁺

If you wanted to decrease the amount of formic acid relative to formate, what would you add to the solution?

A. it not possible to change the ratio of formic acid to formulate

B. Nacl

C. NaoH

D. Hcl

E. H2O

Answer 1

Solution :-

Dissociation equation of formic acid is as follows

HCCOH < ----- > HCOO^-   + H^+

To decrease the amount of formic acid relative to formate anion we need to add the base to the acid solution so that the base reacts with formic acid and produces the formate ion by the following equation

HCOOH + OH^- ---- > HCOO^- + H2O

Therefore we need to add the base NaOH to the acid solution

Hence the answer is option C NaOH