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Topic: Aspirin is considered to be a weak acid, How can you measure the exact pH?  (Read 4014 times)

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Offline Manu786

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Any help would be appreciated

Offline Borek

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Re: Aspirin is considered to be a weak acid, How can you measure the exact pH?
« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2017, 05:20:03 PM »
With a pH meter.

Are you sure you asked a correct question?
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Offline Manu786

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Re: Aspirin is considered to be a weak acid, How can you measure the exact pH?
« Reply #2 on: December 04, 2017, 05:31:19 PM »
Aspirin is considered to be a weak acid, can you explain why? How can you measure the exact pH?

That is the question.

Offline wildfyr

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Re: Aspirin is considered to be a weak acid, How can you measure the exact pH?
« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2017, 06:27:43 PM »
Your question doesn't make sense, that is why Borek made that query. If I dissolve 10 milligrams of aspirin in 10 mL of water I get a certain pH, if I dissolve 10 milligrams in 500 mL of water I get another. If I dissolve 10 mg in 10 mL of methanol I get a third pH.

Perhaps you are referring to the pKa? That is a specific number that doesn't vary with concentration (though it does vary with solvent).

And as for why aspirin is a weak acid, well, what are the definitions for a strong acid or a weak acid, and which of these apply to aspirin?

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Offline DrCMS

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Re: Aspirin is considered to be a weak acid, How can you measure the exact pH?
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2017, 04:05:37 AM »
If I dissolve 10 milligrams of aspirin in 10 mL of water I get a certain pH, if I dissolve 10 milligrams in 500 mL of water I get another.

Yes and Yes

If I dissolve 10 mg in 10 mL of methanol I get a third pH.

NO.  If you make that solution and put a pH meter in it I agree you'll get a reading but it is not a pH as it is a non aqueous system it can not be a pH. 

Offline wildfyr

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Re: Aspirin is considered to be a weak acid, How can you measure the exact pH?
« Reply #5 on: December 05, 2017, 09:07:49 AM »
Ah, youre right. I never really thought about it, pKa is universal but pH only applies to aqueous systems.

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