Calculating Ka of Weak Acids Questions

Calculating Kₐ

Acids and Bases Worksheet

Practice Questions

1. Calculate the Kₐ of a monoprotic acid, given that when it has a concentration of 0.5 mol dm⁻³, the pH is 2.6.
Answer

Step 1: Calculate Equilibrium [H⁺]

[H⁺] = 10⁻².⁶ = 0.00251 mol dm⁻³

Step 2: ICE Table

HAH⁺+A⁻
Initial0.500
Change-x+x+x
Equilibrium0.5 – 0.002510.002510.00251
x = [H⁺] = 0.00251

Step 3: Calculate Kₐ
[HA]eq = 0.5 – 0.00251 = 0.4975 mol dm⁻³
Kₐ = [H⁺][A⁻] / [HA]eq
Kₐ = (0.00251)² / 0.4975
Kₐ = 1.27 × 10⁻⁵ mol dm⁻³

2. Calculate the Kₐ of a monoprotic acid, given than a 0.5 mol dm⁻³ solution has a pH of 1.08.
Answer

Step 1: Calculate Equilibrium [H⁺]

[H⁺] = 10⁻¹.⁰⁸ = 0.0832 mol dm⁻³

Step 2: ICE Table

HAH⁺+A⁻
Initial0.500
Change-x+x+x
Equilibrium0.5 – 0.08320.08320.0832
x = [H⁺] = 0.0832

Step 3: Calculate Kₐ
[HA]eq = 0.5 – 0.0832 = 0.4168 mol dm⁻³
Kₐ = (0.0832)² / 0.4168
Kₐ = 1.66 × 10⁻² mol dm⁻³

3. Calculate the Kₐ of a monoprotic acid, given than 0.1 mol dm⁻³ of solution has a pH of 1.65.
Answer

Step 1: Calculate Equilibrium [H⁺]

[H⁺] = 10⁻¹.⁶⁵ = 0.0224 mol dm⁻³

Step 2: ICE Table

HAH⁺+A⁻
Initial0.100
Change-x+x+x
Equilibrium0.1 – 0.02240.02240.0224
x = [H⁺] = 0.0224

Step 3: Calculate Kₐ
[HA]eq = 0.1 – 0.0224 = 0.0776 mol dm⁻³
Kₐ = (0.0224)² / 0.0776
Kₐ = 6.47 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³

4. A monoprotic acid has a pH of 3.50 when at a concentration of 0.02 mol dm⁻³. Calculate the pH of the acid at 0.8 mol dm⁻³.
Answer

Part 1: Find Kₐ

[H⁺] = 10⁻³.⁵⁰ = 3.16×10⁻⁴

HAH⁺+A⁻
Initial0.0200
Change-x+x+x
Equilibrium0.0197xx
x = 3.16×10⁻⁴. [HA]eq = 0.02 – 3.16×10⁻⁴ = 0.0197

Kₐ = (3.16×10⁻⁴)² / 0.0197 = 5.07×10⁻⁶

Part 2: Calculate new pH at 0.8 mol dm⁻³

Since Kₐ is very small, we can assume [HA]eq ≈ 0.8.
[H⁺] = √(Kₐ × 0.8) = √(5.07×10⁻⁶ × 0.8)
[H⁺] = 2.01×10⁻³ mol dm⁻³
pH = -log(2.01×10⁻³) = 2.70

5. A monoprotic acid has a pH of 1.80 when at a concentration of 0.100 mol dm⁻³. Calculate the concentration of acid that would result in a pH of 1.00.
Answer

Part 1: Find Kₐ

[H⁺] = 10⁻¹.⁸⁰ = 0.0158

HAH⁺+A⁻
Initial0.10000
Equilibrium0.08420.01580.0158
[HA]eq = 0.1 – 0.0158 = 0.0842

Kₐ = (0.0158)² / 0.0842 = 2.97×10⁻³

Part 2: Calculate Concentration for pH 1.00

Target [H⁺] = 10⁻¹ = 0.1 mol dm⁻³
We know Kₐ = [H⁺]² / [HA]eq
[HA]eq = [H⁺]² / Kₐ = (0.1)² / 2.97×10⁻³ = 3.37 mol dm⁻³

Find Initial Concentration:
[HA]initial = [HA]eq + [H⁺] (dissociated)
[HA]initial = 3.37 + 0.1 = 3.47 mol dm⁻³