164k views
1 vote
What is the percentage of a weak acid (pKa = 5.4) in the non-ionized form in plasma (pH 7.4)?

User Sindhara
by
6.5k points

1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:

0.99%

Step-by-step explanation:

The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relates the ratio of the ionized to the non-ionized form of an acid as follows:

pH = pKa + log([A⁻]/[HA])

Inserting the values for pH and pKa and solving gives:

7.4 = 5.2 + log([A⁻]/[HA])

2 = log([A⁻]/[HA])

[A⁻]/[HA] = 100/1

The percentage of the weak acid in non-ionized form (HA) is then calculated:

[HA]/([A⁻] + [HA]) = 1/(100+1) x 100% = 0.99&

User Cristian Meneses
by
5.4k points