How do you calculate the pH of a weak acid?

Lets say we have 0.89 mol dm-3 of CH3COOH, a weak acid, with a ka of 1.7X10^-5.We want to find Ph, but to do this we first need to know [H+] because PH = -log10[H+].Because CH3COOH is a weak acid, it only partially dissociates,         CH3COOH <--------> CH3COO- + H+therefore it has an acid dissociation contast (ka)ka= [CH3COO-] [H+] / [CH3COOH]Because both of ur products are coming from the single reactant, and because of the molar ratios of the chemical equation, [CH3OO-] = [H+].so we can simplify our expression to ka = [H+]^2/ [CH3COO]With weak acids we are able to make an important assumption. Because dissociation is weak, we can assume [H+] is really small, so much so that 1- [H+] is roughly 1. S0 [H+} is roughly 0.The amount of reactant we have at eqm in this reaction is equal to amount at start-amount of each product formed at eqm.Therefore [CH3COOH] at the start of the reaction is roughly unchanged at equilibirum, its a bit like saying [CH3COOH]-0 is still [CH3COOH].Therefore we can say ka= [H+]^2 / 0.89Plug in the ka value: 1.7 x 10^-5 = [H+]^2 / 0.89Remember we said we were looking to find [H+] so lets rearrange to make [H+] the subject:[H+]^2= (1.7 x 10 ^-5 ) x 0.89[H+] ^2 = 1.513x 10^ -5[H+] = 3.89x 10^-3ph = -log10(3.89 x 10^-3)ph= 2.4

AH

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

How can you deduce the order of the reaction with respect to the reagent based on the graph of its concentration against time?


This question is about the ionisation energy of elements across a period. a) Define ionisation energy. b) Explain the trend in ionisation energy across a period.


What is the effect of temperature on K(equilibrium constant)?


What is the trend in reactivity of Group 2 elements with halogens as the group is descended?