Question

A pool owner adds a compound containing chlorine to the pool to disinfect it. However, too much of the compound is added. As a result, the water becomes too acidic. What could the pool owner do to reduce the acidity of the pool?

He could add another acid to the pool to compete with the existing acid.
He could add a metal salt to the pool to precipitate the acid.
He could add a base to the pool to neutralize the acid.

Answer 1

Answer: He could add a base to the pool to neutralize the acid.

Step-by-step explanation:

Chlorine is used to disinfect the pools as it produces hypochlorous acid in water. This hypochlorous acid is unstable and gives hydrochloric acid and nascent oxygen which is used to disinfect.

`Cl_2+H_2O\rightarrow HOCl`

`HOCl\rightarrow HCl+O`

The excess acid is neutralized by adding base which produces salt and water and thus decrease the acidity.

`Acid+Base\rightarrow Salt+water`

Adding more acid would increase the acidity further.