Skip to main content
Chemistry LibreTexts

18.3: Common-Ion Effect in Solubility Equilibria

  • Page ID
    24307
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Learning Objectives
    • Recognize common ions from various salts, acids, and bases.
    • Calculate concentrations involving common ions.
    • Calculate ion concentrations involving chemical equilibrium.

    The common-ion effect is used to describe the effect on an equilibrium involving a substance that adds an ion that is a part of the equilibrium.

    Introduction

    The solubility products Ksp's are equilibrium constants in hetergeneous equilibria (i.e., between two different phases). If several salts are present in a system, they all ionize in the solution. If the salts contain a common cation or anion, these salts contribute to the concentration of the common ion. Contributions from all salts must be included in the calculation of concentration of the common ion. For example, a solution containing sodium chloride and potassium chloride will have the following relationship:

    \[\mathrm{[Na^+] + [K^+] = [Cl^-]} \label{1}\]

    Consideration of charge balance or mass balance or both leads to the same conclusion. The solubility product expression tells us that the equilibrium concentrations of the cation and the anion are inversely related. That is, as the concentration of the anion increases, the maximum concentration of the cation needed for precipitation to occur decreases—and vice versa—so that Ksp is constant. Consequently, the solubility of an ionic compound depends on the concentrations of other salts that contain the same ions. Adding a common cation or anion shifts a solubility equilibrium in the direction predicted by Le Chatelier’s principle. As a result, the solubility of any sparingly soluble salt is almost always decreased by the presence of a soluble salt that contains a common ion. The exceptions generally involve the formation of complex ions, which is discussed later.

    Common Ions

    When \(\ce{NaCl}\) and \(\ce{KCl}\) are dissolved in the same solution, the \(\mathrm{ {\color{Green} Cl^-}}\) ions are common to both salts. In a system containing \(\ce{NaCl}\) and \(\ce{KCl}\), the \(\mathrm{ {\color{Green} Cl^-}}\) ions are common ions.

    \(\mathrm{NaCl \rightleftharpoons Na^+ + {\color{Green} Cl^-}}\)
    \(\mathrm{KCl \rightleftharpoons K^+ + {\color{Green} Cl^-}}\)
    \(\mathrm{CaCl_2 \rightleftharpoons Ca^{2+} + {\color{Green} 2 Cl^-}}\)
    \(\mathrm{AlCl_3 \rightleftharpoons Al^{3+} + {\color{Green} 3 Cl^-}}\)
    \(\mathrm{AgCl \rightleftharpoons Ag^+ + {\color{Green} Cl^-}}\)

    For example, when \(\ce{AgCl}\) is dissolved into a solution already containing \(\ce{NaCl}\) (actually \(\ce{Na+}\) and \(\ce{Cl-}\) ions), the \(\ce{Cl-}\) ions come from the ionization of both \(\ce{AgCl}\) and \(\ce{NaCl}\). Thus, \(\ce{[Cl- ]}\) differs from \(\ce{[Ag+]}\). The following examples show how the concentration of the common ion is calculated.

    Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    What are \(\ce{[Na+]}\), \(\ce{[Cl- ]}\), \(\ce{[Ca^2+]}\), and \(\ce{[H+]}\) in a solution containing 0.10 M each of \(\ce{NaCl}\), \(\ce{CaCl2}\), and \(\ce{HCl}\)?

    Solution

    Due to the conservation of ions, we have

    \[\mathrm{[Na^+] = [Ca^{2+}] = [H^+] = 0.10\: \ce M}\nonumber.\]

    but

    \[\begin{alignat}{3}
    &\ce{[Cl- ]} &&= && && \:\textrm{0.10 (due to NaCl)}\nonumber \\
    & && && + &&\mathrm{\:0.20\: (due\: to\: CaCl_2)}\nonumber\\
    & && && + &&\mathrm{\:0.10\: (due\: to\: HCl)}\nonumber\\
    & &&= && &&\mathrm{\:0.40\: M}\nonumber
    \end{alignat}\]

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    John poured 10.0 mL of 0.10 M \(\ce{NaCl}\), 10.0 mL of 0.10 M \(\ce{KOH}\), and 5.0 mL of 0.20 M \(\ce{HCl}\) solutions together and then he made the total volume to be 100.0 mL. What is \(\ce{[Cl- ]}\) in the final solution?

    \[\mathrm{[Cl^-] = \dfrac{0.1\: M\times 10\: mL+0.2\: M\times 5.0\: mL}{100.0\: mL} = 0.020\: M}\nonumber\]

    Le Châtelier's Principle states that if an equilibrium becomes unbalanced, the reaction will shift to restore the balance. If a common ion is added to a weak acid or weak base equilibrium, then the equilibrium will shift towards the reactants, in this case the weak acid or base.

    Example \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Consider the lead(II) ion concentration in this saturated solution of PbCl2. The balanced reaction is

    \[ PbCl_{2 (s)} \rightleftharpoons Pb^{2+} _{(aq)} + 2Cl^-_{(aq)}\nonumber\]

    Defining \(s\) as the concentration of dissolved lead(II) chloride, then:

    \[[Pb^{2+}] = s\nonumber \]

    \[[Cl^- ] = 2s\nonumber\]

    These values can be substituted into the solubility product expression, which can be solved for \(s\):

    \[\begin{align*} K_{sp} &= [Pb^{2+}] [Cl^-]^2 \\[4pt] &= s \times (2s)^2 \\[4pt] 1.7 \times 10^{-5} &= 4s^3 \\[4pt] s^3 &= \frac{1.7 \times 10^{-5}}{4} \\[4pt] &= 4.25 \times 10^{-6} \\[4pt] s &= \sqrt[3]{4.25 \times 10^{-6}} \\[4pt] &= 1.62 \times 10^{-2}\, mol\ dm^{-3} \end{align*}\]​

    The concentration of lead(II) ions in the solution is 1.62 x 10-2 M. Consider what happens if sodium chloride is added to this saturated solution. Sodium chloride shares an ion with lead(II) chloride. The chloride ion is common to both of them; this is the origin of the term "common ion effect".

    Look at the original equilibrium expression again:

    \[ PbCl_2 \; (s) \rightleftharpoons Pb^{2+} \; (aq) + 2Cl^- \; (aq)\nonumber \]

    What happens to that equilibrium if extra chloride ions are added? According to Le Châtelier, the position of equilibrium will shift to counter the change, in this case, by removing the chloride ions by making extra solid lead(II) chloride.

    Of course, the concentration of lead(II) ions in the solution is so small that only a tiny proportion of the extra chloride ions can be converted into solid lead(II) chloride. The lead(II) chloride becomes even less soluble, and the concentration of lead(II) ions in the solution decreases. This type of response occurs with any sparingly soluble substance: it is less soluble in a solution which contains any ion which it has in common. This is the common ion effect.

    A Simple Example

    If an attempt is made to dissolve some lead(II) chloride in some 0.100 M sodium chloride solution instead of in water, what is the equilibrium concentration of the lead(II) ions this time? As before, define s to be the concentration of the lead(II) ions.

    \[[Pb^{2+}] = s \label{2}\]

    The calculations are different from before. This time the concentration of the chloride ions is governed by the concentration of the sodium chloride solution. The number of ions coming from the lead(II) chloride is going to be tiny compared with the 0.100 M coming from the sodium chloride solution. In calculations like this, it can be assumed that the concentration of the common ion is entirely due to the other solution. This simplifies the calculation.

    So we assume:

    \[[Cl^- ] = 0.100\; M \label{3}\]

    The rest of the mathematics looks like this:

    \begin{equation} \begin{split} K_{sp}& = [Pb^{2+}][Cl^-]^2 \\ & = s \times (0.100)^2 \\ 1.7 \times 10^{-5} & = s \times 0.00100 \end{split} \end{equation}

    therefore:

    \begin{equation} \begin{split} s & = \dfrac{1.7 \times 10^{-5}}{0.0100} \\ & = 1.7 \times 10^{-3} \, \text{M} \end{split} \label{4} \end{equation}

    Finally, compare that value with the simple saturated solution:

    Original solution:

    \[[Pb^{2+}] = 0.0162 \, M \label{5}\]

    Solution in 0.100 M NaCl solution:

    \[ [Pb^{2+}] = 0.0017 \, M \label{6}\]

    The concentration of the lead(II) ions has decreased by a factor of about 10. If more concentrated solutions of sodium chloride are used, the solubility decreases further.

    Adding a common ion to a system at equilibrium affects the equilibrium composition, but not the ionization constant.

    Common Ion Effect with Weak Acids and Bases

    Adding a common ion prevents the weak acid or weak base from ionizing as much as it would without the added common ion. The common ion effect suppresses the ionization of a weak acid by adding more of an ion that is a product of this equilibrium.

    Example \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    The common ion effect of H3O+ on the ionization of acetic acid

    common ion 1.jpg

    The common ion effect suppresses the ionization of a weak base by adding more of an ion that is a product of this equilibrium.

    Example \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    Consider the common ion effect of OH- on the ionization of ammonia

    common ion 2.jpg

    Adding the common ion of hydroxide shifts the reaction towards the left to decrease the stress (in accordance with Le Châtelier's Principle), forming more reactants. This decreases the reaction quotient, because the reaction is being pushed towards the left to reach equilibrium. The equilibrium constant, \(K_b=1.8 \times 10^{-5}\), does not change. The reaction is put out of balance, or equilibrium.

    \[Q_a = \dfrac{[NH_4^+][OH^-]}{[NH_3]}\nonumber \]

    At first, when more hydroxide is added, the quotient is greater than the equilibrium constant. The reaction then shifts right, causing the denominator to increase, decreasing the reaction quotient and pulling towards equilibrium and causing \(Q\) to decrease towards \(K\).

    Common Ion Effect on Solubility

    Consider, for example, the effect of adding a soluble salt, such as CaCl2, to a saturated solution of calcium phosphate [Ca3(PO4)2].

    \[\ce{Ca3(PO4)2(s) <=> 3Ca^{2+}(aq) + 2PO^{3−}4(aq)} \label{Eq1}\]

    We have seen that the solubility of Ca3(PO4)2 in water at 25°C is 1.14 × 10−7 M (Ksp = 2.07 × 10−33). Thus a saturated solution of Ca3(PO4)2 in water contains

    \[3 × (1.14 × 10^{−7}\, M) = 3.42 × 10^{−7}\, M\, \ce{Ca^{2+}} \]

    and

    \[2 × (1.14 × 10^{−7}\, M) = 2.28 × 10^{−7}\, M\, \ce{PO4^{3−}}\]

    according to the stoichiometry shown in Equation \(\ref{Eq1}\) (neglecting hydrolysis to form HPO42). If CaCl2 is added to a saturated solution of Ca3(PO4)2, the Ca2+ ion concentration will increase such that [Ca2+] > 3.42 × 10−7 M, making Q > Ksp. The only way the system can return to equilibrium is for the reaction in Equation \(\ref{Eq1}\) to proceed to the left, resulting in precipitation of \(\ce{Ca3(PO4)2}\). This will decrease the concentration of both Ca2+ and PO43 until Q = Ksp.

    Adding a common ion decreases solubility, as the reaction shifts toward the left to relieve the stress of the excess product. Adding a common ion to a dissociation reaction causes the equilibrium to shift left, toward the reactants, causing precipitation.

    Example \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    Consider the reaction:

    \[ PbCl_2(s) \rightleftharpoons Pb^{2+}(aq) + 2Cl^-(aq)\nonumber \]

    What happens to the solubility of PbCl2(s) when 0.1 M NaCl is added?

    Solution

    \[K_{sp}=1.7 \times 10^{-5}\nonumber\]

    \[Q_{sp}= 1.8 \times 10^{-5}\nonumber\]

    Identify the common ion: Cl​-

    Notice: Qsp > Ksp The addition of NaCl has caused the reaction to shift out of equilibrium because there are more dissociated ions. Typically, solving for the molarities requires the assumption that the solubility of PbCl2 is equivalent to the concentration of Pb2+ produced because they are in a 1:1 ratio.

    Because Ksp for the reaction is 1.7×10-5, the overall reaction would be (s)(2s)2= 1.7×10-5. Solving the equation for s gives s= 1.62×10-2 M. The coefficient on Cl- is 2, so it is assumed that twice as much Cl- is produced as Pb2+, hence the '2s.' The solubility equilibrium constant can be used to solve for the molarities of the ions at equilibrium.

    The molarity of Cl- added would be 0.1 M because Na+ and Cl- are in a 1:1 ration in the ionic salt, NaCl. Therefore, the overall molarity of Cl- would be 2s + 0.1, with 2s referring to the contribution of the chloride ion from the dissociation of lead chloride.

    \[\begin{eqnarray} Q_{sp} &=& [Pb^{2+}][Cl^-]^2\nonumber \\ 1.8 \times 10^{-5} &=& (s)(2s + 0.1)^2 \\ s &=& [Pb^{2+}]\nonumber \\ &=& 1.8 \times 10^{-3} M\nonumber\\ 2s &=& [Cl^-]\nonumber\\ &\approx & 0.1 M \end{eqnarray} \]

    Notice that the molarity of Pb2+ is lower when NaCl is added. The equilibrium constant remains the same because of the increased concentration of the chloride ion. To simplify the reaction, it can be assumed that [Cl-] is approximately 0.1M since the formation of the chloride ion from the dissociation of lead chloride is so small. The reaction quotient for PbCl2 is greater than the equilibrium constant because of the added Cl-. This therefore shift the reaction left towards equilibrium, causing precipitation and lowering the current solubility of the reaction. Overall, the solubility of the reaction decreases with the added sodium chloride.

    The common ion effect usually decreases the solubility of a sparingly soluble salt.

    Example \(\PageIndex{6}\)

    Calculate the solubility of calcium phosphate [Ca3(PO4)2] in 0.20 M CaCl2.

    Given: concentration of CaCl2 solution

    Asked for: solubility of Ca3(PO4)2 in CaCl2 solution

    Strategy:

    1. Write the balanced equilibrium equation for the dissolution of Ca3(PO4)2. Tabulate the concentrations of all species produced in solution.
    2. Substitute the appropriate values into the expression for the solubility product and calculate the solubility of Ca3(PO4)2.

    Solution

    A The balanced equilibrium equation is given in the following table. If we let x equal the solubility of Ca3(PO4)2 in moles per liter, then the change in [Ca2+] is once again +3x, and the change in [PO43] is +2x. We can insert these values into the ICE table.

    \[Ca_3(PO_4)_{2(s)} \rightleftharpoons 3Ca^{2+}_{(aq)} + 2PO^{3−}_{4(aq)}\]

      Ca3(PO4)2 [Ca2+] [PO43]
    initial pure solid 0.20 0
    change +3x +2x
    final pure solid 0.20 + 3x 2x

    B The Ksp expression is as follows:

    Ksp = [Ca2+]3[PO43]2 = (0.20 + 3x)3(2x)2 = 2.07×10−33

    Because Ca3(PO4)2 is a sparingly soluble salt, we can reasonably expect that x << 0.20. Thus (0.20 + 3x) M is approximately 0.20 M, which simplifies the Ksp expression as follows:

    \[\begin{align*}K_{\textrm{sp}}=(0.20)^3(2x)^2&=2.07\times10^{-33}
    \\[4pt] x^2&=6.5\times10^{-32}
    \\[4pt] x&=2.5\times10^{-16}\textrm{ M}\end{align*}\]

    This value is the solubility of Ca3(PO4)2 in 0.20 M CaCl2 at 25°C. It is approximately nine orders of magnitude less than its solubility in pure water, as we would expect based on Le Chatelier’s principle. With one exception, this example is identical to Example \(\PageIndex{2}\)—here the initial [Ca2+] was 0.20 M rather than 0.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    Calculate the solubility of silver carbonate in a 0.25 M solution of sodium carbonate. The solubility of silver carbonate in pure water is 8.45 × 10−12 at 25°C.

    Answer

    2.9 × 10−6 M (versus 1.3 × 10−4 M in pure water)

    The Common Ion Effect in Solubility Products: https://youtu.be/_P3wozLs0Tc

    Summary

    Adding a common cation or common anion to a solution of a sparingly soluble salt shifts the solubility equilibrium in the direction predicted by Le Chatelier’s principle. The solubility of the salt is almost always decreased by the presence of a common ion.

    Contributors and Attributions


    18.3: Common-Ion Effect in Solubility Equilibria is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

    • Was this article helpful?