SCH 4U/G Name: ________

Acid Dissociation Constants answer key

1. An acid is a substance HA that can form H3O+ (aq) in the equilibrium:
HA (aq) + H2O (l) ⇄ H3O+ (aq) + A- (aq)
a) Does equilibrium favour reactants or products for strong acid?
Large Ka =

H3O+ (aq) + A- (aq)

HA (aq) + H2O (l)
b) Does equilibrium favour reactants or products for a very weak acid?
Small Ka =
H3O+ (aq) + A- (aq)

HA (aq) + H2O (l)

c) If acid HA1 is a stronger acid than acid HA2 is K1 a larger or smaller number than K2?
K1 = [H3O+][A1-] / [HA1] K2 = [H3O+][A2-] / [HA2]

2. Use your table of Acid Dissociation Constants (KA, C9 page 803) to find:
a) Which of the following acids are the strongest and which are the weakest?
Ammonium ion, NH4+ (in an NH4Cl solution) 5.8 X 10-10 weakest
Hydrogen sulfate ion, HSO4 (in a KHSO4 solution)
-
1.0 X 10-2 strongest
Hydrogen sulfide, H2S 1.1 X 10-7

b) If 0.1 M solutions are made of NH4Cl, KHSO4, and H2S, in which will [H3O+] be highest and in
which will it be lowest?
0.1 M NH4Cl lowest
0.1 M KHSO4 highest
0.1 M H2S

3. Write the equation for the reaction in each of the following examples. For each reaction,
predict whether reactants or products are favored (using values of K A given in C9 page 803).
a) HNO2 (aq) + NH3 (aq) ⇄ NO21- (aq) + NH4+ (aq)
acid base base acid
7.2 X 10-4 5.8 X 10-10
product favoured (conjugate acid is weaker)

b) NH4+ (aq) + F- (aq) ⇄ NH3 (aq) + HF (aq)

acid base base acid
5.8 X 10-10 6.6 X 10-4
reactant favoured (conjugate acid is stronger)

4. A 0.25 M solution of benzoic acid (symbolize it HA) is found to have [H 3O+] = 4 x 10-3 M.
Assuming the simple reaction:
HA (aq) + H2O (l) ⇄ H3O+ (aq) + A- (aq)
I 0.25 M 0 0
C -x +x +x
E 0.25 – x X = 4 x 10-3 M X = 4 x 10-3 M
= 0.25 - 4 x 10-3 M
= 0.246 M

Calculate KA for benzoic acid.

SCH 4U/G Name: ________

KA = (4 x 10-3 M)2 / 0.246

= 6.5 x 10-5

5. If 23 grams of formic acid, HCOOH, are dissolved in 10.0 liters of water at 20 oC, the [H3O+] is
found to be 3.0 x 10-3 M. Calculate KA.

HCOOH (aq) + H2O (l) ⇄ H3O+ (aq) + HCOO- (aq)

I (23/46) mol/10.0 L = 0 0
0.050 M
C -x +x +x
E 0.050 – x x = 3.0 x 10-3 x = 3.0 x 10-3
0.050 - 3.0 x 10-3
= 0.047

KA = (3.0 x 10-3)2 / 0.047

= 1.9 x 10-4

What is the pKa of formic acid?

KA = 1.9 x 10-4
pKa = -log (1.9 x 10-4)
= 3.7
Used for comparing the relative strengths of acids (the smaller the pKa the stronger the acid)