This is an acidic buffer solution made of a weak acid (acetic acid) and its salt with a strong base (sodium acetate).
The pH of an acidic buffer is calculated using the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:
pH=pKa+log[Acid][Salt]
Given:
Volume of sodium acetate (V1) = 50 mL
Molarity of sodium acetate (M1) = 0.10 M
Number of millimoles of salt = 50×0.10=5 mmol
Volume of acetic acid (V2) = 50 mL
Molarity of acetic acid (M2) = 0.01 M
Number of millimoles of acid = 50×0.01=0.5 mmol
Total volume of the mixture = 50 mL+50 mL=100 mL
Concentration of salt in the mixture = 100 mL5 mmol=0.05 M
Concentration of acid in the mixture = 100 mL0.5 mmol=0.005 M
(Alternatively, since equal volumes are mixed, the ratio of their concentrations is the same as the ratio of their initial molarities: 0.010.10=10)
Now, substitute the values into the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:
pH=4.57+log(0.0050.05)
pH=4.57+log(10)
pH=4.57+1=5.57
Thus, the pH of the solution is 5.57.