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Chemistry 2e · Front matter

Ionization Constants of Weak Acids

CC BY 4.0 · OpenStax · approximately 5 min read

Learning objectives

Ionization Constants of Weak Acids
Acid Formula Ka at 25 °C Lewis Structure
acetic CH3CO2H 1.8 × 10−5

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Original figure description: Lewis structure of acetic acid, an organic compound found in vinegar. It illustrates the arrangement of atoms, bonds, and lone pairs in the molecule.

arsenic H3AsO4 5.5 × 10−3

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Original figure description: Lewis structure of arsenic acid (H3AsO4) showing the central arsenic atom bonded to one oxygen with a double bond and three hydroxyl groups, with lone pairs on oxygen atoms.

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Original figure description: The chemical formula for dihydrogen arsenate, H2AsO4-, is displayed on a white background. The 'H2' is in a reddish-brown color, while 'AsO4-' is black.

1.7 × 10−7

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Original figure description: The chemical formula for hydrogen arsenate, HAsO4^2-.

3.0 × 10−12
arsenous H3AsO3 5.1 × 10−10

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Original figure description: A chemical diagram illustrates the Lewis structure of arsenous acid (H3AsO3), featuring a central arsenic atom single-bonded to three oxygen atoms, each further bonded to a hydrogen atom, and lone pairs on the oxygen atoms.

boric H3BO3 5.4 × 10−10

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Original figure description: A chemical structure diagram of boric acid, showing a central boron atom bonded to three hydroxyl groups (B(OH)3).

carbonic H2CO3 4.3 × 10−7

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Original figure description: Lewis structure of carbonic acid (H2CO3), showing its covalent bonds and lone pair electrons.

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Original figure description: The bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) plays a crucial role in maintaining pH balance in the body and is an important component of the carbonic acid-bicarbonate buffer system.

4.7 × 10−11
formic HCO2H 1.8 × 10−4

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Original figure description: Lewis structure of formic acid (HCOOH) with lone pairs shown, illustrating its molecular arrangement and bonding.

hydrazoic HN3 2.5 × 10−5

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Original figure description: Resonance structures of hydrazoic acid (HN3), depicting the delocalization of electrons and formal charges across the nitrogen atoms.

hydrocyanic HCN 4.9 × 10−10
hydrofluoric HF 6.4 × 10−4
hydrogen peroxide H2O2 2.4 × 10−12

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Original figure description: Lewis structure of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), depicting two hydrogen atoms bonded to two oxygen atoms, with each oxygen also featuring two lone pairs of electrons.

hydrogen selenide H2Se 1.29 × 10−4
HSe– 1 × 10−12
hydrogen sulfate ion

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Original figure description: The chemical formula for the bisulfate ion, HSO4-, is displayed.

1.2 × 10−2

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Original figure description: Lewis structure of the bisulfate ion (HSO4-), showing sulfur double-bonded to two oxygens, single-bonded to a negatively charged oxygen, and single-bonded to a hydroxyl group.

hydrogen sulfide H2S 8.9 × 10−8
HS– 1.0 × 10−19
hydrogen telluride H2Te 2.3 × 10−3
HTe– 1.6 × 10−11
hypobromous HBrO 2.8 × 10−9
hypochlorous HClO 2.9 × 10−8
isocyanic HCNO 2 × 10−4

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Original figure description: A Lewis structure representation of isocyanic acid (HNCO). This molecular diagram shows a hydrogen atom bonded to a nitrogen atom, which is double-bonded to a carbon atom, which is also double-bonded to an oxygen atom. Lone pairs are present on the nitrogen and oxygen atoms.

nitrous HNO2 4.6 × 10−4

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Original figure description: The Lewis structure of nitrous acid (HNO2) displays single bonds between nitrogen and two oxygen atoms, with one oxygen bonded to a hydrogen. Lone pairs are also shown on the oxygen and nitrogen atoms.

oxalic H2C2O4 6.0 × 10−2

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Original figure description: Lewis structure of oxalic acid, showing two hydroxyl groups and two carbonyl groups. The molecule has a chemical formula of H2C2O4.

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Original figure description: The image shows the chemical formula for the hydrogen oxalate ion (also known as bioxalate), represented as HC2O4-. The 'H' is in a brownish color, while 'C2O4-' is in black, with the minus sign indicating its ionic nature.

6.1 × 10−5
phosphoric H3PO4 7.5 × 10−3

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Original figure description: Lewis structure of phosphoric acid (H3PO4), depicting a central phosphorus atom double-bonded to one oxygen and single-bonded to three other oxygen atoms, each of which is bonded to a hydrogen atom.

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Original figure description: The chemical formula for the dihydrogen phosphate ion, H2PO4-.

6.2 × 10−8

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Original figure description: The chemical formula for a hydrogen phosphate ion, represented as HPO4 with a 2- charge.

4.2 × 10−13
phosphorous H3PO3 5 × 10−2

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Original figure description: Lewis structure of phosphorous acid (H3PO3), featuring a central phosphorus atom bonded to three hydroxyl groups, with each oxygen having two lone pairs.

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Original figure description: A chemical formula for dihydrogen phosphite ion, H2PO3-, is displayed on a white background. The 'H2' is in a reddish-brown color, while 'PO3-' is in black.

2.0 × 10−7
sulfurous H2SO3 1.6 × 10−2

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Original figure description: Lewis structure of sulfuric acid (H2SO4), showing the central sulfur atom bonded to two hydroxyl groups and one oxygen, along with lone pairs of electrons.

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Original figure description: The chemical formula for the bisulfite ion, HSO3-, is displayed.

6.4 × 10−8
← Standard Thermodynamic Properties for Selected SubstancesIonization Constants of Weak Bases →

Attribution. Chemistry 2e, OpenStax, Rice University, and the contributing authors credited in the book. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. Source revision 32c719622f of openstax/osbooks-chemistry-bundle (2026-02-04). CC BY 4.0. Original source ↗. Text edition of a pinned CC BY 4.0 source revision of the OpenStax book, converted from CNXML by the EvidenceHelix importer. Original prose, learning objectives, tables, exercises, glossary and captions are preserved; images are not copied (figures link to the original source and keep their credits). No new content was added. Later revisions of this book can carry different licence terms and are not used.

In this chapter Contents

  • Preface
  • The Periodic Table
  • Essential Mathematics
  • Units and Conversion Factors
  • Fundamental Physical Constants
  • Water Properties
  • Composition of Commercial Acids and Bases
  • Standard Thermodynamic Properties for Selected Substances
  • Ionization Constants of Weak Acids
  • Ionization Constants of Weak Bases
  • Solubility Products
  • Formation Constants for Complex Ions
  • Standard Electrode (Half-Cell) Potentials
  • Half-Lives for Several Radioactive Isotopes

Source

OpenStax source file ↗

Illustrated original ↗

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