Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation - MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

Card 1 of 63

0
Didn't Know
Knew It
0
1 of 2019 left
Question

A solution of acetic acid (pKa = 4.75) has a pH of 6.75. The ratio of acid to conjugate base is                     .

Tap to reveal answer

Answer

Use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation: \dpi{100} \small pH=pK_{a}+log\left \frac{\left [ A^{-} \right ]}{\left [ HA \right ]}

\dpi{100} \small 6.75=4.75+log\left \frac{\left [ A^{-} \right ]}{\left [ HA \right ]}

\dpi{100} \small 2=log\left \frac{\left [ A^{-} \right ]}{\left [ HA \right ]}

\dpi{100} \small 10^{2}=\left \frac{\left [ A^{-} \right ]}{\left [ HA \right ]}=100

We want the ratio of acid to conjugate base, which would be the reciprocal, \dpi{100} \small 10^{2}=\left \frac{\left [ HA \right ]}{\left [ A^{-} \right ]}=\frac{1}{100}

← Didn't Know|Knew It →