Calculate the pH at 298K of 0.10 mol dm-3 ethanoic acid solution.

Ka = 1.75 x 10-5 mol dm-3.

HA(aq) H+(aq) + A-(aq)

Ka = [H+(aq)] [A-(aq)] = 1.75 x 10-5 mol dm-3 (at 298K)

[HA(aq)]

Assumption 1 [H+(aq)] = [A-(aq)] (ignore the H+ from water itself as this

will be very small)

Assumption 2 The amount of HA at equilibrium is equal to the amount of

HA put into the solution (ignore the tiny fraction of HA which has lost H+).

Assumptions 1 and 2 allow us to write

1.7 x 10-5 = [H+(aq)]2
0.10

Therefore [H+(aq)]2 = 1.7 x 10-5 x 0.10 = 1.7 x 10-6

Therefore [H+(aq)] = √1.7 x 10-6

So [H+(aq)] = 1.3 x 10-3 mol dm-3

and pH = -lg (1.3 x 10-3) =2.9