Question

Ammonium in water undergoes a reaction. What is the constant associated with this reaction?

a) Kₐ
b) K_b
c) K_w
d) K_c

Answer 1

The constant associated with the reaction of ammonium in water is Ka, which stands for the acid ionization constant. The equation for the reaction is NH4+ (aq) + H2O (l) -> H3O+ (aq) + NH3 (aq). The equilibrium expression for this reaction is Ka = [H3O+] / [NH4+].

Step-by-step explanation:

The constant associated with the reaction of ammonium in water is Ka, which stands for the acid ionization constant. Ka is the equilibrium constant for the ionization of a weak acid. In the case of the ammonium ion, NH4+, it acts as a weak acid and donates a proton to water, forming the hydronium ion, H3O+.

The equation for the reaction is:

NH4+ (aq) + H2O (l) ⇒ H3O+ (aq) + NH3 (aq)

The equilibrium expression for this reaction is:

Ka = [H3O+] / [NH4+]