The weak acid (base) general equation

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Most acids known are weak while there are no more than twenty strong acids. The
reactions of weak acids and bases with water do not go to completion. So to
calculate the pH of their solutions the acid (or base) dissociation constants are used,
ka and kb respectively, and the laws of chemical equilibrium.
Let us now find a general equation for the pH (or for [H+]) of a weak acid HA. This is
the mathematical approach.

Mathematical Approach:

There are two equilibria present: i) the dissociation of water

and ii) the dissociation of the weak acid ka

[H+] [OH-] = kw

[H+] [A-] = ka [HA]

(1)

(2)

If the concentration of the acid in solution is C (M, moles/l), a mass balance on the
anion A gives:

C = [HA] + [A-]

(3)

and a charge balance gives:

[H+] = [OH-] + [A-]

(4)

Let us assume that ka, kw and C are known. Then there are four equations and four
unknowns (shown in red in equations (1) to (4)).
A general expression for [H+] (or for the pH of a weak acid) in this case would be an
expression in terms of the known ka, kw and C. Therefore, the unknowns have to be
eliminated starting from [HA] or [OH-] that are contained in the least number of
equations.
Let us eliminate first [OH-]. Solving equation (1) for [OH-] and substituting it in
equation (4):

[H+] [OH-] = kw and [OH-] = kw / [H+] (1)

By substituting (1) to (4) eliminates [OH-]:

[H+] = [OH-] + [A-] = kw / [H+] + [A-]

(5)

Next let us eliminate [HA] by solving equation (3) for [HA] and substituting in
equation (2):

C = [HA] + [A-] and [HA] = C - [A-]

(3)

Substitute (3) in equation (2) and eliminate [HA]:

[H+] [A-] = ka [HA] = ka (C - [A-])

(6)

Now let us eliminate [A-] by solving equation (5) for [A-] and substitute in equation
(6):

[H+] = kw / [H+] + [A-] and [A-] = [H+] - kw / [H+]

(7)

Substituting (7) in equation (6):

[H+] [A-] = ka [HA] = ka (C - [A-]) and

[H+] ([H+] - kw / [H+]) = ka (C -[H+] - kw / [H+]) )

(8)

Rearranging (8) we get a cubic equation in [H+]:

[H+]3 + ka[H+]2 (kw + ka C) [H+] - kw ka = 0

(9)

Using the known values of C, ka, kw equation (9) can be solved for [H+] and the pH
can be calculated. The solution of the cubic equation is straightforward but tedious.

In our days, solution of equations like (9) has become easier by using on line cubic
calculators.
For more info please see the following:
Weak Acids and Bases - pH calculation

pH of a strong acid
Strong and-weak-acids-and-bases