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In order to help prevent tooth decay, fluoride ions at a level of 0.9 mg L$^{-1}$ of F$^-$ are added to Melbourne's public water supplies - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 4 - 2004 - Paper 1

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In order to help prevent tooth decay, fluoride ions at a level of 0.9 mg L$^{-1}$ of F$^-$ are added to Melbourne's public water supplies. The fluoride ions are obta... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:In order to help prevent tooth decay, fluoride ions at a level of 0.9 mg L$^{-1}$ of F$^-$ are added to Melbourne's public water supplies - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 4 - 2004 - Paper 1

Step 1

i. Calculate the mass of sodium fluoride in mg that must be present in one litre of water to produce a concentration of fluoride ions of 0.90 mg L$^{-1}$.

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Answer

To find the mass of sodium fluoride (NaF) needed:

  1. First, identify the molar mass of NaF:

    • Molar mass of Na = 22.99 g/mol
    • Molar mass of F = 19.00 g/mol
    • Molar mass of NaF = 22.99 + 19.00 = 41.99 g/mol
  2. Using the concentration of fluoride ions:

    • We want a concentration of 0.90 mg L1^{-1} in 1 L of water.
    • Therefore, the mass of fluoride ions required = 0.90 mg.
  3. From the molecular formula, 1 mole of NaF gives 1 mole of fluoride ions. Thus:

    • 1 mole of fluoride ions = 41.99 g of NaF.
    • Therefore, 0.90 mg of fluoride ions corresponds to:

    ext{mass of NaF} = rac{0.90 ext{ mg} imes 41.99 ext{ g/mol}}{19.00 ext{ g/mol}}

    • Converting 0.90 mg to grams: 0.90 mg = 0.00090 g,

    • Calculate:

    ext{mass of NaF} = rac{0.00090 ext{ g} imes 41.99 ext{ g/mol}}{19.00 ext{ g/mol}} \\ ext{mass of NaF} = 0.00197 ext{ g} = 1.97 ext{ mg}

Thus, the mass of sodium fluoride required is approximately 1.97 mg.

Step 2

ii. What mass of sodium fluoride, in kilogram, must be added to a 750 ML reservoir (1 ML = 10$^{6}$ L) to produce a concentration of fluoride ions of 0.90 mg L$^{-1}$?

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Answer

To determine the mass of sodium fluoride required in a 750 ML reservoir:

  1. First, convert 750 ML to liters:

    • 750 ML = 0.750 L.
  2. The concentration of fluoride ions required is 0.90 mg L1^{-1}, therefore the total mass of fluoride ions needed in 0.750 L is:

    extmassofF=0.90extmg/Limes0.750extL=0.675extmg ext{mass of F} = 0.90 ext{ mg/L} imes 0.750 ext{ L} = 0.675 ext{ mg}

  3. Now, calculate the corresponding mass of NaF needed:

    ext{mass of NaF} = rac{0.675 ext{ mg} imes 41.99 ext{ g/mol}}{19.00 ext{ g/mol}}

    • Converting mg to grams:

    = 0.000675 ext{ g} imes rac{41.99}{19.00}

This results in:

extmassofNaF=1.48extmg=0.00148extg=0.00000148extkg ext{mass of NaF} = 1.48 ext{ mg} = 0.00148 ext{ g} = 0.00000148 ext{ kg}

Thus, the mass of sodium fluoride required is approximately 0.00000148 kg.

Step 3

iii. Calculate the number of fluoride ions swallowed by a person who drank one litre of water from the reservoir.

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Answer

To calculate the number of fluoride ions in one litre of water:

  1. Recall the concentration of fluoride ions is 0.90 mg L1^{-1}.

  2. Convert this mass to grams:

    • 0.90 mg = 0.00090 g.
  3. Calculate the moles of fluoride ions:

    ext{moles of F} = rac{ ext{mass}}{ ext{molar mass}} = rac{0.00090 ext{ g}}{0.019 ext{ g/mol}}

    • Calculating:

    extmolesofF=0.04737extmol ext{moles of F} = 0.04737 ext{ mol}

  4. Use Avogadro's number to find the number of fluoride ions:

    extnumberofFions=0.04737extmolimes6.022imes1023extions/mol ext{number of F ions} = 0.04737 ext{ mol} imes 6.022 imes 10^{23} ext{ ions/mol}

    • Calculating:

    extnumberofFionsextisapproximately2.85imes1022extions ext{number of F ions} ext{ is approximately } 2.85 imes 10^{22} ext{ ions}.

Thus, a person who drank one litre of water from the reservoir would swallow approximately 2.85imes10222.85 imes 10^{22} fluoride ions.

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