Question

If the pH of a weak acid solution is 2.500 and the solution has a concentration of 0.100M, what is the Ka of the weak acid HA?

Answer 1

The Kₐ of the weak acid is 1.033×10⁻⁴

Step-by-step explanation:

The dissociation of a weak acid in aqueous solution is limited to about 5 to 10%

The acid dissociation reaction is given as follows;

HA (aq) + H₂O (l) → H₃O⁺(aq) + A⁻ (aq)

Given that the pH = 2.5, we have

pH = -log₁₀[H₃O⁺] = 2.5

∴ [H₃O⁺] = 10^(-2.5) = 0.0031623

`K_a = ([H_3O^+][A^-])/([HA])`

Kₐ = [H₃O⁺][A⁻]/[HA] = (0.0031623^2)/(0.1 - 0.0031623) = 1.033×10⁻⁴

The acid dissociation constant, Kₐ for weak acid is very low as obtained