Calculate the acid dissociation constant of a weak monoprotic acid if a 0.5M solution of this acid gives a hydrogen-ion concentration of 0.000 1M? Show your work.
Hint: Monoprotic means containing one proton.

Please help thanks a lot!

Respuesta :

Let the acid be HA.
The chemical formula for this acid will be the following:

[tex]HA \rightleftharpoons H^{+}+A^{-}[/tex]

The formula for the acid dissociation constant will be the following:

[tex]K_a= \dfrac{[H^+][A^-]}{[HA]}[/tex]

We know [H+]=0.0001 (it's given).
However, we must find [A-] and [HA] in order to solve for the constant.

We find that [A-]=[H+] by using a electroneutrality equation.
Also, we can create a concentration equation to find [HA].

[tex]0.5M=[A^-]+[HA][/tex]
[tex][HA]=0.5M-[A^-][/tex]

Now, we can find the acid dissociation constant.

[tex]K_a= \dfrac{[H^+][A^-]}{0.5M-[A^-]}[/tex]

[tex]= \dfrac{0.0001*0.0001}{0.5-0.0001} = 2.0*10^{-8}[/tex]