Question

A 0.15 m solution of chloroacetic acid has a ph of 1.86. What is the value of ka for this acid?

Answer 1

Answer: $1.67\times 10^{-3}$

Explanation:

$ClCH_2COOH\rightarrow ClCH_2COO^-+H^+$

   cM              0             0

$c-c\alpha$        $c\alpha$          $c\alpha$  

So dissociation constant will be:

$K_a=\frac{(c\alpha)^{2}}{c-c\alpha}$

Given:  c = 0.15 M

pH = 1.86

$K_a$ = ?

Putting in the values we get:

Also $pH=-log[H^+]$

$1.86=-log[H^+]$

$[H^+]=0.01$

$[H^+]=c\times \alpha$

$0.01=0.15\times \alpha$

$\alpha=0.06$

As $[H^+]=[ClCH_2COO^-]=0.01$

$K_a=\frac{(0.01)^2}{(0.15-0.15\times 0.06)}$

$K_a=1.67\times 10^{-3]$

Thus the vale of $K_a$ for the acid is $1.67\times 10^{-3}$