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Percentage Dissociation Formula:
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Percentage dissociation measures the extent to which a weak acid dissociates in solution. It represents the fraction of acid molecules that have donated a proton, expressed as a percentage of the initial concentration.
The calculator uses the percentage dissociation formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates what percentage of the original acid molecules have dissociated to produce hydrogen ions in solution.
Details: Percentage dissociation is crucial for understanding acid strength, predicting pH of weak acid solutions, and analyzing chemical equilibrium in acid-base reactions.
Tips: Enter hydrogen ion concentration and initial acid concentration in molarity (M). Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the percentage dissociation.
Q1: What is considered a weak acid?
A: Weak acids partially dissociate in water, typically with dissociation constants (Ka) less than 1. Examples include acetic acid and citric acid.
Q2: How does temperature affect percentage dissociation?
A: Increasing temperature generally increases percentage dissociation for endothermic dissociation reactions, as described by Le Chatelier's principle.
Q3: Can this formula be used for strong acids?
A: No, strong acids completely dissociate (100% dissociation), so this calculation is not applicable. The formula is specifically for weak acids.
Q4: What is the relationship between Ka and percentage dissociation?
A: For very weak acids where [H+] ≈ √(Ka×C), percentage dissociation = √(Ka/C) × 100. The relationship shows that dissociation decreases as concentration increases.
Q5: Why is percentage dissociation important in chemistry?
A: It helps determine acid strength, predict solution conductivity, understand buffer capacity, and analyze chemical equilibrium in various applications.