Due to a highway accident, 150 L of concentrated hydrochloric acid (12.0 M) is released into a lake containing 5.0 * 10⁵ m³ of water. If the pH of this lake was 7.0 prior to the accident, what is the pH of the lake following the accident A) 5.44 B) 8.56 C) 8.44 D) 5.56 E) 2.44

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The moles of HCl added are 12.0 M * 150 L = 1800 moles. The concentration of H+ ions in the lake becomes 1800 moles / 5.0 * 10^5 m^3 = 3.6 * 10^-3 M. The pH is -log(3.6 * 10^-3) = 2.44.

Due to a Highway Accident, 150 L of Concentrated Hydrochloric