ESTIMATION OF ACID STRENGTH

AND DETERMINATION OF ACID

DISSOCIATION CONSTANT OF A
WEAK ACID

IISC, Bangalore

Dr. Moumita Koley

Strong and weak acids

According to the Brnsted-Lowry acid-base
theory, the strength of an acid is related to its
ability to donate protons. All acid-base
reactions are then competitions between
bases of various strengths for these protons.
For example, the strong acid HCl reacts with
water according to Equation
HCl(aq) + H2O(l)

H3O+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

Strong acids
Strong acid and is completely dissociated (in
other words, 100 percent dissociated) in dilute
aqueous solution. Consequently, the [H3O+]
concentration of a 0.1 M HCl solution is 0.1 M.
Thus HCl is a stronger acid than water and
completely donates a proton to water to form
H3O+.
HCl(aq) + H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

Weak acids
acetic acid, CH3COOH (abbreviated AcOH), is a
weak acid and is only slightly dissociated, as
shown in Equation
CH3COOH(aq) + H2O(l)
H3O+(aq) + CH3COO Acid dissociation constant, Ka = = 1.7 x 10-5 at
25oC
Temperature is important .

Dissociation equilibrium
For a generalized acid dissociation,

the equilibrium expression is

H 3O + A
Kc =
[ HA][ H 2O]

Reversible reaction

[ ] represents molar concentrations of the

involved chemical species.

Acid Dissociation Constants

H 3O + A-
Kc =
[ HA][ H 2O]
H 3O + A-
Kc.[ H 2O] = Ka =
[ HA]
in dilute solution water is constant

This equilibrium constant is called the aciddissociation constant, Ka.

Ka> 1 x 10-3 -a strong acid.
Ka< 1 x 10-3 -a weak acid.
Ka increases the strength of the acid also
increases.

Figure : Relative strengths of some

conjugate acid-base pairs. The two
members of each pair are listed
opposite each other in the two
columns. The acids decrease in
strength from top to bottom, whereas
their conjugate bases increase in
strength from top to bottom.

Dissociation Constants of weak

acids

Strength of Acid Depends on Structure

Figure :The acidity of oxyacids increases with increasing electronegativity of the central atom.
As the electronegativity of the atom attached to an OH group increases, the ease with which the
hydrogen atom is ionized increases. The drift of electron density toward the electronegative atom
further polarizes the OH bond, which favors ionization. In addition, the electronegative atom will help
stabilize the conjugate base, which also leads to a stronger acid. Because Cl is more electronegative
than I, HClO is a stronger acid than HIO.

Weak Bases
The equilibrium constant expression for this
reaction is

where Kb is the base-dissociation constant.

Why we want to know?

The dissociation constant can also help us to
determine the biological impact of a chemical,
such as to what degree it will be absorbed by
the body and the degree of toxicity.
For example, ammonia, NH3, is toxic to fish,
whereas its ionized form, ammonium, NH4+ is
not toxic.

Drugs and acid dissociation constants

Many drugs are weak acids or bases-pK values
needed to be mentioned,
drugs

pKa

drugs

pKa

Penicillin G

2.7

Tetracycline

3.3

Aspirin

3.5

Adrenaline

8.6

Fenoprofen

4.5

Diphenhydramin

9.0

Phenobarbital

7.4

Ephedrine

9.6

Henderson Hasselbalch equation

H 3O A
Ka =
[ HA]
+

[A ]
log 10 Ka = log 10[ H ] + log 10
[ HA]
+

[A ]
pH = pKa + log
[ HA]

Henderson Hasselbalch equation

Determination of Dissociation Constant

Relation ship between pH and pKa

[A ]
pH = pKa + log
[ HA]
At half equivalence point, [A-] = [HA]. So the above equation becomes,

pH = pKa
So by measuring pH , pKa can be determined.

Determination of Ka of AcOH

Add NaOH to the 0.1 M solution of AcOH.

Relation ship between pH and pKa

[A ]
pH = pKa + log
[ HA]
At half equivalence point, [A-] = [HA]. So the
above equation becomes,

pH = pKa
So by measuring pH , pKa can be determined.

Measurement of pH
PASCO pH meter-Measure pH of a solution.

Click on datastudio. This will open the next window.

Click on launch datastudio.

Click set up.

Calibration of pH Sensor

Click on Calibrate sensor

This window will open

Calibrating the sensor

Choose pH sensor. Go to 2 point calibration

1.Dip the sensor in given pH = 4 solution.

2.Click on read from sensor for the 1st calibration
point.
3.Then click-OK button.

Press start button from data

studio.
Next go to digit display.
It will show the pH value in
display. It should be exactly 4.
If not do the calibration again.

Calibrating sensor
Same way do it for pH=7
This will be your 2nd point calibration.

Go back to datastudio again

Then click set up. Then this window will open.

Now go to sampling option

In sampling option window

check

Vol of NaOH used

Unit, mL

Drag in the window

Next Steps
In Lab

Go to : from Iisc : 10.80.13.53

Create username, will get password.
Then , SEM-I