(a) Given that Ka for acetic acid is 1.8 X 10^-5 and that for hypochlorous acid is 3.0 X 10^-8, which is the stronger acid? (b) Which is the stronger base, the acetate ion or the hypochlorite ion? (c) Calculate Kb values for CH3COO- and ClO-.

Acetic acid is stronger than hypochlorous acid. Hypochlorite ion is stronger than acetate ion. Kb for CH₃COO⁻ is 5.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ and the Kb for ClO⁻ is 3.3 × 10⁻⁷.

(a) Given that Ka for acetic acid is 1.8 × 10⁻⁵ and that for hypochlorous acid is 3.0 × 10⁻⁸, which is the stronger acid?

The acid ionization constant (Ka) is a way to measure the strength of an acid. The larger the Ka, the stronger the acid. Thus, acetic acid is stronger than hypochlorous acid.

(b) Which is the stronger base, the acetate ion or the hypochlorite ion?

Acetate ion is the conjugate base of acetic acid and hypochlorite ion is the conjugate base of hypochlorous acid. There is an inverse relationship between the strength of an acid and its conjugate base. The stronger the acid, the weaker the conjugate base. Then, hypochlorite ion is stronger than acetate ion.

(c) Calculate Kb values for CH₃COO⁻ and ClO⁻.

Given the Ka of an acid, we can calculate the Kb of its conjugate base using the following expression.

The Kb for CH₃COO⁻ is:

The Kb for ClO⁻ is:

Acetic acid is stronger than hypochlorous acid. Hypochlorite ion is stronger than acetate ion. Kb for CH₃COO⁻ is 5.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ and the Kb for ClO⁻ is 3.3 × 10⁻⁷.

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HOAc is stronger acid than HClO

ClO⁻ is stronger conjugate base than OAc⁻

Kb(OAc⁻) = 5.5 x 10⁻¹⁰

Kb(ClO⁻) = 3.3 x 10⁻⁷

Explanation:

Assume 0.10M HOAc => H⁺ + OAc⁻  with Ka = 1.8 x 10⁻⁵

=> [H⁺] = √Ka·[Acid] =√(1.8 x 10⁻⁵)(0.10) M = 1.3 x 10⁻³M H⁺

Assume 0.10M HClO => H⁺ + ClO⁻ with Ka = 3 x 10⁻⁸

=> [H⁺] = √(3 x 10⁻⁸)(0.10)M = 5.47 x 10⁻⁵M H⁺

HOAc delivers more H⁺ than HClO and is more acidic.

Kb = Kw/Ka, Kw = 1 x 10⁻¹⁴

Kb(OAc⁻) = 5.5 x 10⁻¹⁰

Kb(ClO⁻) = 3.3 x 10⁻⁷

explanation:

two years ago, when picking flowers in the mountains back of yosemite valley, i found a book. it was blotted and storm-beaten; all of its outer pages were mealy and crumbly. the paper seemed to dissolve like the snow beneath which it had been buried, however; many of the inner pages were well preserved. and although all were more or less stained and torn, whole chapters were easily readable. this is the condition of the great open book of yosemite glaciers today; its granite pages have been torn and blurred by the same storms that wasted the castaway book.

two years ago, when picking flowers in the mountains back of yosemite valley; i found a book. it was blotted and storm-beaten, all of its outer pages were mealy and crumbly. the paper seemed to dissolve like the snow beneath which it had been buried, however, many of the inner pages were well preserved. and although all were more or less stained and torn; whole chapters were easily readable. this is the condition of the great open book of yosemite glaciers today, its granite pages have been torn and blurred by the same storms that wasted the castaway book.