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Acid Dissociation Constant definitions

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  • Acid Dissociation Constant
    Equilibrium constant quantifying how readily an acid releases hydrogen ions in solution; higher values indicate stronger acids.
  • Ka
    Numerical value representing the tendency of an acid to donate hydrogen ions; used to compare acid strengths quantitatively.
  • Equilibrium Constant
    Ratio of product concentrations to reactant concentrations at equilibrium; applied to acid dissociation reactions.
  • Hydrogen Ion
    Positively charged particle released during acid dissociation; its concentration determines solution acidity.
  • Conjugate Acid
    Species formed when a base gains a hydrogen ion; can dissociate to yield a conjugate base and hydrogen ion.
  • Conjugate Base
    Species produced when an acid loses a hydrogen ion; participates in equilibrium with its conjugate acid.
  • Polyprotic Acid
    Molecule containing multiple acidic hydrogens, each capable of dissociation and associated with its own Ka value.
  • Acidic Hydrogen
    Hydrogen atom in an acid molecule that can dissociate to form a hydrogen ion; each has a unique Ka in polyprotic acids.
  • Phosphoric Acid
    Example of a polyprotic acid with three dissociable hydrogens, each contributing to separate Ka values.
  • pKa
    Logarithmic scale value derived from Ka; higher values correspond to weaker acids due to inverse relationship.
  • Scientific Notation
    Method for expressing very large or small Ka values, simplifying calculations and comparisons.
  • Acetic Acid
    Weak acid characterized by a small Ka and large pKa, illustrating the inverse relationship between these values.
  • Hydrochloric Acid
    Strong acid with a large Ka and small pKa, serving as a reference for acid strength comparisons.
  • Logarithmic Scale
    Mathematical approach used to convert Ka values into pKa, facilitating easier interpretation of acid strength.