April 19, 2024, 06:33:06 AM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: How can be concentration of acid be smaller than concetration of H30+ ions?  (Read 1555 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline bobo.gardener

  • Very New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
I have encountered with problem when trying to calculate concentration of malic acid from known pH = 3,9(c=0.000125 M) considering only first degree of dis, so pKa=3,4(Ka=0.000398). Think that bothers me is  calculated concentration of malic acid is 3.9*10^-5.
by formula Ka=([H+]*[A-])/[HA] i derived it so: [HA]=([H+]*[A-])/Ka

in numbers :  [HA]= (0.000125 * 0.000125)/0.000398
                   [HA]=0.000039

I have bad feeling, that my calculations or understanding of this topic is flawed, but how can concentration of acid before dissociation be lower than actual concentration of its ions?

Offline AWK

  • Retired Staff
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 7979
  • Mole Snacks: +555/-93
  • Gender: Male
Use different approximation
Ka=[H3O+]2/(c-[H3O+])
AWK

Offline Borek

  • Mr. pH
  • Administrator
  • Deity Member
  • *
  • Posts: 27652
  • Mole Snacks: +1800/-410
  • Gender: Male
  • I am known to be occasionally wrong.
    • Chembuddy
You have calculated concentration of HA - but that's not the analytical concentration of the acid. What about the dissociation product, A-?
ChemBuddy chemical calculators - stoichiometry, pH, concentration, buffer preparation, titrations.info

Sponsored Links