Where; |
Ka is the Acid dissociation constant,
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[H+] is the concentration of hydronium ion,
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[A-] is the concentration of the conjugate base,
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[HA] is the concentraion of the acid.
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When an acid, HA, dissolves in water, some molecules of the acid 'dissociate' to form hydronium ions and the conjugate base,
(A-), of the acid.
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Values of Ka vary over many orders of magnitude, so it is common to take the negative logarithm to base ten of the value. |
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It is easier to compare the strengths of different acids by comparing pKa values as they vary over a much smaller range. |