In: Chemistry
In the laboratory, a general chemistry student measured the pH of a 0.552 M aqueous solution of hydrofluoric acid to be 1.685. Use the information she obtained to determine the Ka for this acid. Ka(experiment) =
HF is a weak acid.
For a weak acid HA,
HA + H2O = H3O+ + A-
C 0 0
C(1-α) αC αC
K = [H3O+][ A-]/[ HA][ H2O]
Ka = K[H2O] = [H3O+][ A-]/[ HA]
Ka = (αC)2/ C(1-α) = α2C (as α<<1)
α = √ (Ka/C)
[H3O+] = αC = C * √ (Ka/C) = √ (KaC)
pH = - log[H3O+] = - log √ (KaC)
= 0.5 ( pKa - logC)
Here, pH = 1.685 = 0.5 ( pKa - log0.552)
or, 3.37 = pKa + 0.258
or, pKa = 3.112
or, Ka = 10-3.112 = 7.73 * 10-4