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Question

How do you calculate the pH of acetic acid?

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Solution

Acetic acid, CH3COOH, is a weak acid, meaning that it partially ionizes in aqueous solution to form hydronium cations, H3O+, and acetate anions, CH3COO

CH3COOH(aq)+H2O(l)+CH3COO(aq)

The position of the ionization equilibrium is given by the acid dissociation constant, Ka, which for acetic acid is equal to
Ka=1.8× 105

Now, let's assume that you want to find the pH of a solution of acetic and that has a concentration of c. According to the balanced chemical equation that describes the ionization of the acid, every mole acetic acid that ionizes will produce 1 mole of H+ ion.
CH3COOH(aq)+H2OH3O+(aq)+CH3COO(aq)
1 0 0
At Equilibrium :
cx x x

The acid dissociation constant will be equal to
Ka=[H3O+]˙ [CH3COO][CH3COOH]

This will be equivalent to
Ksp=x˙ xcx=x2cx

Now, as long as the initial concentration of the acetic acid, c, is significantly higher than the Ksp of the acid, you can use the approximation

cxc valid when c>>Ksp

In this case, the equation becomes

Ksp=x2c

which gives you

x=c× Ksp

Since x represents the equilibrium concentration of hydronium cations, you will have

[H3O+]=c× Ksp

Now, the pH of the solution is given by

pH=log([H3O+])

Combine these two equations to get

pH=log(c× Ksp)

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