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× 10−5
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)+H2O⇌H3O+(aq)+CH3COO−(aq)
1 0 0
At Equilibrium :
c−x x x
The acid dissociation constant will be equal to
Ka=[H3O+]˙ [CH3COO−][CH3COOH]
This will be equivalent to
Ksp=x˙ xc−x=x2c−x
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
c−x≈c→ 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)