How to find percent ionization from Ka?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking how to calculate the percent ionization of a weak acid from its acid dissociation constant (Ka). This involves understanding the relationship between Ka, the concentration of the acid, and the concentration of the ionized form of the acid at equilibrium.
Answer
Using the formula % ionization = (x / [HA]0) * 100.
The final answer is the percentage value you find in the last step.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is the percentage value you find in the last step.
More Information
Percent ionization helps in understanding how much of the weak acid has ionized in solution. The approximation Ka = x^2 / [HA]0 is often used for simplification when [HA]0 is much larger than x.
Tips
Ensure accurate units and use the equilibrium concentrations, not just initial concentrations, in the calculations.