Three acids solutions have the following pH:
Solution A: pH = 2
Solution B: pH = 5
Solution C: pH = 3
Which solution is made with the acid that has the smallest ionization constant?
To determine which solution is made with the acid that has the smallest ionization constant, we need to understand the relationship between pH and ionization constant (Ka).
The ionization constant, also known as the acid dissociation constant, is a measure of the degree to which an acid dissociates into its ions in water. It represents the strength of an acid, with a smaller Ka indicating a weaker acid.
The pH of a solution is a measure of its acidity, which is determined by the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in the solution. A lower pH indicates a higher concentration of H+ ions, meaning a more acidic solution.
The relationship between pH and ionization constant is logarithmic. The pH of a solution can be calculated using the formula: pH = -log[H+], where [H+] represents the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution.
From the given information, we have the following pH values for the three acid solutions:
Solution A: pH = 2
Solution B: pH = 5
Solution C: pH = 3
Comparing these pH values, we can see that Solution A has the lowest pH and Solution B has the highest pH. Therefore, we can conclude that Solution A is made with the acid that has the smallest ionization constant.
To validate this, we can also consider that a lower pH corresponds to a higher concentration of hydrogen ions, which implies a stronger acid. Therefore, Solution A, with its lower pH value of 2, is likely made with the acid that has the smallest ionization constant.