161k views
4 votes
If an acid has a ka =1.6 x 10-10 what is the acidity of the solution

User MrMoeinM
by
6.2k points

1 Answer

2 votes
Imagine the hypothetical acid HA whose equilibrium is


HnAm (aq) ⇄ nH+ + m A-


And the Ka is, Ka = [H+]^n * [A-]^m / [HnAm]


Aciditiy is a measure of the [H+] in equilibbrium.


The higher [H+] the higher the acidity.


And from the equation

- the higher [H+] the higher Ka,
- the lower [H+] the lower Ka
- the higher Ka the higher [H+].
- the lower Ka the lower [H+]


Then, you conclude that for a low Ka (which 1.6 * 10^-10 is) the acidity is low.


That means that the corresponding acid has a low acidity (it is a weak acid).

You can calculte the acidity as the pKa

pKa = log { 1 / Ka} = log { 1 / ( 1.6*10^-10) } = 9.8


Answer: the acidity is low with a pKa of 9.8.
User Stew C
by
6.4k points