Exercise 5 | The Properties of Acids and Bases

General Chemistry 3 - Exercise 5

The pH of a 4.0 x 10-2 M of formic acid HCOOH is 3.08. Calculate the % dissociation of HCOOH.

% dissociation = H3O+HCOOH0 x 100


[H3O+] = 10-pH = 10-3.08 = 8.32 x 10-4 M

[HCOOH]0 = 4.0 x 10-2  M


% dissociation = 8.32 × 10-44.0 × 10-2 x 100 = 2.1 %