Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation

pH = pK
a
+ log ([A
-
]/[HA])
[A
-
] = molar concentration of a conjugate base
[HA] = molar concentration of a undissociated weak acid (M)
The equation can be rewritten to solve for pOH:
pOH = pK
b
+ log ([HB
+
]/[ B ])
[HB
+
] = molar concentration of the conjugate base (M)
[ B ] = molar concentration of a weak base (M)
Example Problem Applying the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
Calculate the pH of a buffer solution made from 0.20 M HC
2
H
3
O
2
and 0.50 M C
2
H
3
O
2
-
that has
an acid dissociation constant for HC
2
H
3
O
2
of 1.8 x 10
-5
.
Solve this problem by plugging the values into the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation for a weak
acid and its conjugate base.
pH = pK
a
+ log ([A
-
]/[HA])
pH = pK
a
+ log ([C
2
H
3
O
2
-
] / [HC
2
H
3
O
2
])
pH = -log (1.8 x 10
-5
) + log (0.50 M / 0.20 M)
pH = -log (1.8 x 10
-5
) + log (2.5)
pH = 4.7 + 0.40
pH = 5.1