Acetic Acid is a weak acid (HOAc) that ionizes only ~1.5% as follows:
HOAc ⇄ H⁺ + OAc⁻.
In pure water the hydronium ion concentration [H⁺] equals the acetate ion concentration [OAc⁻] and can be determined* using the formula [H⁺] = [OAc⁻] = SqrRt(Ka·[acid]) = SqrRt(1.8x10⁻⁵ x 0.0500)M = 9.5x10⁻⁴M.
By definition, pH = -log[H⁺] = -log(9.5x10⁻⁴) = 3.02
*This formula can be used to determine the [H⁺] & [Anion⁻] concentrations for any weak acid in pure water given its Ka-value and the molar concentration of acid in solution.
