Question

Answer questions a-c about the Bronsted acid-base reaction below using the identifying letters A-D below each structure. The pKa's for the acids of interest are: phenol (pKa = 9.9), and carbonic acid (pKa = 6.4). a) The stronger acid is b) Its conjugate base is c) The species that predominate at equilibrium are (two letters, e.g. ac)

Answer 1

Answer:

a  H2CO3 b HCO3- and c H+ and HCO3-

Explanation:

As the pKa value of phenol is more than that of carbonic acid(H2CO3), the carbonic acid will have high Ka value than that of phenol.

  The acid that contain high Ka value act as stong acid.From that point of view H2CO3 is a strong acid than phenol as the Ka value of carbonic acid is greater than that of phenol.

  The conjugate base of H2CO3 is bicarbonate ion(HCO3-)

c The species that predorminates at equilibrium are H+ and HCO3-