How does pKa relate to basicity?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 13, 2016

#pK_a + pK_b = 14#

Explanation:

The above equation relates to aqueous solutions only. I think you know that for strong acids, (e.g. hydrogen halides, sulfuric, perchloric acid etc.) the equlibium lies strongly to the RIGHT as written:

#HX(aq) + H_2O(l) rightleftharpoons H_3O^+ + X^-#

So strong acids tend to donate a proton to the solvent molecule (which here is water). This is equivalent to the argument that the conjugate base of the acid, here #X^-#, competes POORLY for the proton. That is a strong acid implies a WEAK conjugate base.

On the other hand, we could display the acid-base behaviour of hydrogen fluoride, a weak to moderate Bronsted acid:

#HF(aq) + H_2O(l) rightleftharpoons F^(-) + H_3O^+#

Here, the equilibrium lies to the LEFT (certainy further to the left than for the other hydrogen halides where there is poor overlap between hydrogen and halide, why?)

So the take home message? Strong acid; weak conjugate base. Weak acid; strong conjugate base.

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