Chemistry › Section N · Acid-base equilibria › Topic N.3
Relative strengths of acids and bases
At 0.10 M, hydrochloric acid and vinegar's acetic acid differ in pH by nearly two units. Ionisation constants put a number on that difference, explain it through molecular structure, and let you calculate the pH of any weak acid or base.
In this topic
- What strength means
- The acid ionisation constant, Ka
- The base ionisation constant, Kb
- Conjugate pairs: Ka × Kb = Kw
- The levelling effect
- Percent ionisation
- Solving for the pH of a weak acid
- Worked example: the pH of dilute ammonia
- Worked example: when the shortcut fails
- Structure and strength
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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