Weak Acids

A weak acid is an acid that does not ionize completely in water to form hydrogen (hydronium)
ions. Most common acids are weak. Many naturally occurring acids are carboxylic acids, which
are weak acids.

Common inorganic weak acids include hydrofluoric acid ( HF ), carbonic acid ( H 2CO3 ),
hydrosulfuric acid ( H 2 S ), and boric acid ( H 3 BO3 ).

Percent Ionization of Weak Acids

The percent ionization of an acid, p , is defined as follows:

concentration of acid ionized

p= ×100%
concentration of acid solute

The concentration of acid ionized is equal to the hydrogen ion concentration in the solution after
ionization, while the concentration of acid solute is equal to the original concentration of the acid
before ionization.

For the general weak acid ionization reaction,

HA ( aq ) ⇔ H + ( aq ) + A − ( aq )

⎡⎣ H + ⎤⎦
p= ×100%
[ HA ]
As you learned earlier, in a 0.1 mol / L HCl solution, virtually all of the HCl molecules ionize.
The concentration of hydrogen ions is, therefore, equal to the initial concentration of the acid,
and p = 100% .

In a 0.1 mol / L solution of acetic acid (a weak acid), only 1.3% of the acetic acid molecules
ionize to form hydrogen ions.

If you know the pH of a weak acid solution, it is possible to calculate the percent ionization of
the acid.

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Example 1
The pH of a 0.10 mol / L methanoic acid solution is 2.38. Calculate the percent ionization of
methanoic acid.

Ionization Constants for Weak Acids

An equilibrium solution of a weak acid dissolved in water is just like the equilibrium systems
you have studied in earlier units. Thus, the system can be represented with an equilibrium law
expression and an equilibrium constant, as we have with other equilibrium systems.

The equilibrium constant for a weak acid is known as the acid ionization constant ( K a ). For
acetic acid,

CH 3COOH ( aq ) ⇔ H + ( aq ) + CH 3COO − ( aq )

⎡⎣ H + ⎤⎦ ⎡⎣CH 3COO − ⎤⎦
Ka =
[CH 3COOH ]
The percent ionization of a weak acid can be used to calculate the K a value.

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Example 2
Calculate the acid ionization constant of acetic acid if a 0.10 mol / L solution at equilibrium at
25°C has a percent ionization of 1.3%.

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The pH of Weak Acid Solutions

Since the value of K a is constant over a range of acid concentrations, it can be used to calculate
the hydrogen ion concentration and pH of weak acid solutions. We will assume all problems take
place at room temperature ( 25°C ) unless stated otherwise.

Example 3
Calculate the hydrogen ion concentration and the pH of a 0.10 mol / L acetic acid solution.

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The above calculations can also be reversed to calculate a K a value from the pH of an acidic
solution.

Example 4
You measure the pH of a 0.10 mol / L hypochlorous acid ( HOCl ) solution and find it to be 4.23.
What is the K a for hypochlorous acid?

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CH40S Mr. Smith
 Worksheet

1. Calculate the percent ionization of propanoic acid ( HC3 H 5O2 ) if a 0.05 mol / L solution has
a pH of 2.78.

2. The pH of a 0.46 mol / L acetic acid ( CH 3COOH ) solution is 2.54. Calculate the percent
ionization of acetic acid.

3. What is the percent ionization of a 0.15 mol / L HF solution whose pH is measured to be

2.00?

4. Calculate the acid ionization constant of hydrofluoric acid ( HF ) if a 0.10 mol / L solution at
equilibrium has a percent ionization of 7.8%.

5. Calculate the acid ionization constant of nitrous acid if a 0.20 mol / L solution at equilibrium
has a percent ionization of 5.8%.

6. Refer to the K a values given in the Relative Strengths of Brønsted-Lowry Acids and Bases
table provided.

a) What is the hydrogen ion concentration of a 0.10 mol / L solution of hydrofluoric acid?

b) What is the hydrogen ion concentration of a 0.10 mol / L solution of hydrocyanic acid?

c) Which of the above solutions is most acidic?

7. A lab technician tests a 0.10 mol / L solution of propanoic acid and finds that its hydrogen
ion concentration is 1.16 ×10 −3 mol / L . Calculate the percent ionization of propanoic acid in
water.

8. Barbituric acid ( HC4 H 3 N 2O3 ), an organic acid used to manufacture hypnotic drugs and some
plastics, is a weak acid with a K a of 9.8 ×10 −5 . An industrial process requires a 0.25 mol / L
solution of barbituric acid. Calculate the ⎡⎣ H + ⎤⎦ and pH of this solution.

9. Lactic acid ( HC3 H 5O3 ) is a weak acid that gives yogurt its sour taste. Calculate the pH of a
0.025 mol / L solution of lactic acid. The K a for lactic acid is 1.4 ×10 −4 .

10. Calculate the pH of 0.15 mol / L methanoic acid ( HCOOH ).

11. Calculate the K a of a 0.05 mol / L solution of nicotinic acid ( HC2 H 6 NO2 ) with a pH of 3.08.
Nicotinic acid is one of the B vitamins, a dietary requirement.

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12. A 0.25 mol / L solution of benzoic acid ( HC7 H 5O2 ), an antiseptic also used as a food
preservative, has a pH of 2.40. Calculate the K a of benzoic acid.

13. Ascorbic acid ( HC6 H 7O6 ) is a weak organic acid, also known as vitamin C. A 0.20 mol / L
solution of ascorbic acid has a pH of 2.40. What is the K a of ascorbic acid?

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 Answers

1. 3.3%

2. 0.63%

3. 6.7%

4. 6.6 ×10 −4

5. 7.1×10 −4

6. (a) 5.9 ×10 −3 mol / L (b) 7.0 ×10 −6 mol / L

7. 1.16%

8. ⎡⎣ H + ⎤⎦ = 4.9 ×10 −3 mol / L , pH = 2.31

9. 2.73

10. 2.28

11. 1.4 ×10 −5

12. 6.3 ×10 −5

13. 7.9 ×10 −5

CH40S Mr. Smith