Question

Butanoic acid, HC4H7O2, has a pKa value = 4.82. What is the value of the ionization constant for butanoic acid?

Answer 1

Answer:

1.51 × 10⁻⁵

Explanation:

Step 1: Given data

pKa value: 4.82

Step 2: Write the reaction for the acid ionization of butanoic acid, HC₄H₇O₂

Butanoic acid is a weak acid that ionizes according to the following equation.

HC₄H₇O₂(aq) ⇄ C₄H₇O₂⁻(aq) + H⁺(aq)

The acid ionization constant for this reaction is Ka

Step 3: Calculate the value of the ionization constant for butanoic acid

We will use the following expression.

pKa = -log Ka

Ka = antilog -pKa = antilog -4.82 = 1.51 × 10⁻⁵