November 26, 2024, 06:24:48 AM
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Topic: How can be concentration of acid be smaller than concetration of H30+ ions?  (Read 1703 times)

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Offline bobo.gardener

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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

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Use different approximation
Ka=[H3O+]2/(c-[H3O+])
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Offline Borek

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You have calculated concentration of HA - but that's not the analytical concentration of the acid. What about the dissociation product, A-?
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