Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Polyprotic Acids
Polyprotic acids are acids that can donate more than one proton (H+) per molecule in a solution. For example, carbonic acid (H2CO3) can lose two protons, resulting in bicarbonate (HCO3-) and carbonate (CO3^2-). Understanding the stepwise dissociation of these acids is crucial for calculating the concentrations of hydronium ions ([H3O+]) and the resulting pH.
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Dissociation Constants (Ka)
Each dissociation step of a polyprotic acid has a corresponding acid dissociation constant (Ka), which quantifies the strength of the acid in each step. For H2CO3, the first dissociation (H2CO3 ⇌ H+ + HCO3-) has a different Ka than the second (HCO3- ⇌ H+ + CO3^2-). These constants are essential for calculating the equilibrium concentrations of the species in solution and ultimately determining [H3O+].
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Characteristics of Ka and Kb
pH Calculation
pH is a measure of the acidity of a solution, defined as the negative logarithm of the hydronium ion concentration: pH = -log[H3O+]. To calculate pH for a polyprotic acid, one must first determine the [H3O+] from the dissociation equilibria, considering both dissociation steps. This requires applying the principles of equilibrium and the dissociation constants to find the final concentration of hydronium ions.
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