Acids and Bases

Question

A. What information does an acid or base equilibrium constant give?

B. What is the acid dissociation constant for an acid at equilibrium, HX = H* + X-?

C. What is the base dissociation constant for a weak base at equilibrium, B + H20 = BH* + OH-?

D. According to Le Châtelier's principle, what would happen if the equilibrium of a weak acid or weak base were upset?

Answer 1

A. Same as previous answer concerning equilibrium constant. It tells us how much or to what extent the acid or base dissociates or ionizes.

B. The acid dissociation constant (Ka) for HX <==> H⁺ + X^- is Ka = [H⁺][X^-] / [HX]

C. The base dissociation constant (Kb) for B + H2O <==> BH⁺ + OH^- is Kb = [BH⁺][OH^-] / [B]

D. Depends on how the equilibrium was upset. The equilibrium will try to be re-established by counteracting the disturbance. Without knowing how the equilibrium was upset, we can't predict what will happen.