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Ch.16 - Acid-Base Equilibria
Chapter 16, Problem 49

Write the chemical equation and the Ka expression for the ionization of each of the following acids in aqueous solution. First, show the reaction with H+(aq) as a product and then with the hydronium ion: (a) HBrO2 (b) C2H5COOH.

Verified step by step guidance
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Step 1: Identify the acid and its ionization in water. For HBrO2, the ionization reaction with H+(aq) as a product is: \[ \text{HBrO}_2 (aq) \rightleftharpoons \text{H}^+ (aq) + \text{BrO}_2^- (aq) \].
Step 2: Write the Ka expression for the ionization of HBrO2. The expression is: \[ K_a = \frac{[\text{H}^+][\text{BrO}_2^-]}{[\text{HBrO}_2]} \].
Step 3: Show the ionization of HBrO2 with the hydronium ion as a product: \[ \text{HBrO}_2 (aq) + \text{H}_2\text{O} (l) \rightleftharpoons \text{H}_3\text{O}^+ (aq) + \text{BrO}_2^- (aq) \].
Step 4: Identify the acid and its ionization in water for C2H5COOH. The ionization reaction with H+(aq) as a product is: \[ \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{COOH} (aq) \rightleftharpoons \text{H}^+ (aq) + \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{COO}^- (aq) \].
Step 5: Write the Ka expression for the ionization of C2H5COOH. The expression is: \[ K_a = \frac{[\text{H}^+][\text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{COO}^-]}{[\text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{COOH}]} \].