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Example · Example 23

Q.For 0.01 M0.01\ \text{M} acetic acid, the degree of dissociation α=0.0414\alpha = 0.0414 (obtained from Λm/Λm0\Lambda_m/\Lambda_m^{0}). Calculate the dissociation constant, KaK_a, of acetic acid at this concentration.

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For a weak monoprotic acid HA⇌H++A−\text{HA} \rightleftharpoons \text{H}^{+} + \text{A}^{-} dissociating to degree α\alpha from initial concentration CC, the equilibrium concentrations are [H+]=[A−]=Cα[\text{H}^{+}] = [\text{A}^{-}] = C\alpha and [HA]=C(1−α)[\text{HA}] = C(1-\alpha), giving the dissociation constant Ka=[H+][A−][HA]=(Cα)(Cα)C(1−α)=Cα21−αK_a = \dfrac{[\text{H}^{+}][\text{A}^{-}]}{[\text{HA}]} = \dfrac{(C\alpha)(C\alpha)}{C(1-\alpha)} = \dfrac{C\alpha^{2}}{1-\alpha} (Ostwald's dilution law). Substituting C=0.01 MC=0.01\ \text{M} and α=0.0414\alpha=0.0414: numerator =0.01×(0.0414)2=0.01×0.001714=1.714×10−5= 0.01\times(0.0414)^{2} = 0.01\times0.001714 = 1.714\times10^{-5}; denominator =1−0.0414=0.9586=1-0.0414=0.9586; so Ka=1.714×10−50.9586≈1.79×10−5K_a = \dfrac{1.714\times10^{-5}}{0.9586} \approx 1.79\times10^{-5}. This value is very close to t …

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