BRAINCAKEThe Ionic Product of Water Kw
Pure water ionises into H+(aq) and OH-(aq) ions to a very tiny extent.
H2O(l) &rlhar H+(aq) + OH-(aq)
The equilibrium lies to the far left and there are very few ions. The dissociation is endothermic and requires energy. The expression for the acid dissociation constant is
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Key terms in this lesson
- acid dissociation constant Ka
- The equilibrium constant for the dissociation of a weak acid in aqueous solution.
More in Acids, Bases and Buffers
- The Acid Dissociation Constant Ka
- pH
- Calculating the pH of a Strong Acid
- Calculating the pH of a Weak Acid
- Calculating the pH of a Strong Base
- Buffer Solutions
- pH of a Buffer Solution
- Controlling the pH of Blood
All 15 lessons in Acids, Bases and Buffers · All OCR A-level Chemistry topics