Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) and sodium benzoate (C6H5COONa) are both used as food preservatives. If solutions of these two salts of equal molarities are compared, which will have the higher pH? (Ka (HNO2) = 7.2 x 10-4, Ka (C6H5COOH) = 6.3 x 10-5).
Answer
(A)The two solutions will have equal pHs, since the salts are at the same molar concentration.
(B)It's impossible to say from the information given, since only Ka values were given, not Kb values.
(C)sodium benzoate (C6H5COONa)
(D)Sodium nitrite (NaNO2)
Answer
(A)The two solutions will have equal pHs, since the salts are at the same molar concentration.
(B)It's impossible to say from the information given, since only Ka values were given, not Kb values.
(C)sodium benzoate (C6H5COONa)
(D)Sodium nitrite (NaNO2)
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D)HNO2 from Sodium nitrite (NaNO2).
However, the mechanism of action of NaNO2 is not due to its pH which kills microorganism. This class II preservative forms diazonium salt with amino terminal of amino acids present in microbial protein and hinders their metabolic functions thereby destroying the cell.
However, the mechanism of action of NaNO2 is not due to its pH which kills microorganism. This class II preservative forms diazonium salt with amino terminal of amino acids present in microbial protein and hinders their metabolic functions thereby destroying the cell.