Lesson Plan

Lesson: The Acid Dissociation Constant

Aim :

To study the dissociation of weak acids.

Learning Outcomes :

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to :

1. compare weak and strong acids in terms of their degree of ionisation in water.

2. explain and use the terms Ka and pKa.

3. calculate the pH from the H3O+ ion concentration for a weak acid.

Assumed prior knowledge :

Students should already be familiar with :

1. the Brønsted-Lowry theory of acids and bases.

2. the term conjugate base.
3. the definition of a strong acid.
4. the definition of pH.

Underlying Principles

1. Making the invisible, visible.

2. Enabling students to know what to look for.

Time taken to complete the activities : 80 minutes

Differentiation

Questions in the student notes are designed to enable all students to complete the activity.
The pop-up answers are provided for the students to view when they have considered their
responses. Worksheet questions include questions that require recall, understanding and
application of the new concepts learned.

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 1 of 4

Development of Lesson :

No. Steps Strategy Resources

1 Set Induction. • Teacher to quiz students to ensure that

(Ascertaining prior they have the necessary background
knowledge and knowledge.
introducing lesson
topic for the day).

2 Student Activity Teacher to go through Activities 1 - 4 with • Courseware

the students.

• Activity 1 : Strong and weak acids

Students get to compare the difference

between a strong and a weak acid in
terms of their degree of dissociation in
water. They are led to discover that unlike
strong acids, the pH of a weak acid
cannot be calculated based on its initial
concentration alone.

• Activity 2 : Acid dissociation constant,

Ka

Students are shown how the acid

dissociation constant, Ka is derived from
the equilibrium constant of its dissociation
reaction in water. They are shown the
relationship between the strength of an
acid and its Ka value. Students are also
shown how to calculate the pH and the
Ka value of a weak acid based on given
data.

• Activity 3 : Degree of dissociation, α.

Students are introduced to the term
degree of dissociation, α and are shown
how the degree of dissociation of a weak
acid varies with its concentration.

• Activity 4 : pKa
Students are taught the definition of pKa
and the relationship between the pKa
value and the strength of an acid.

3 Evaluation • Students to answer questions in the • Worksheet

student worksheet on their own.

4 Extension activity • Students to go through the extension • Websites

activities on their own. • Reference
books.

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 2 of 4

Worksheet answers

1. Strong and weak acids

1.1 X is a weak acid and Y is a strong acid where both have the same molarity.
pH of Y = 1, therefore full ionisation occurs.
pH of X = 3, therefore partial ionisation occurs.

2. Acid dissociation constant, Ka

0.90 1000
2.1 [C9H8O4] = x
180 250

= 0.02 mol dm−3

[H+] = KaC = 3.3 x 10-4 x 0.02

= 2.57 x 10-3 mol dm−3

pH = - lg [H+]
= - lg ( 2.57 x 10-3)
= 2.6

3. Degree of dissociation, α

3.1 a. Ka = cα 2
= 0.20 x (0.005)2
= 5.0 x 10-6 mol dm-3

pKa = -lgKa
= -lg(5.0x10-6)
= 5.3

b. pH = -lg[H+] = lg(c α )
= -lg(0.20 x 0.005)
= -lg (1.3 x 10-3)
= 3

3.2 a. pH = -lg[H+]
2.8 = - lg[H+]
[H+] = 1.6 x 10-3 mol dm-3

b. c α = [H+]

[H + ] 1.6 x 10 −3
α= = = 1.6 x 10-2
c 0.10

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 3 of 4

4. pKa

4.1 pKa = -lgKa

Ka = 6.3 x 10-5
[H+] = KaC
= (6.3x10 −5 ) x 0.10
= 2.5 x 10-3 mol dm-3

pH = -lg [H+]
= 2.6

4.2 a. pH = -lg[H+]
[H+] = 0.001 mol dm-3

2.0 1000
[HX] = x = 0.108 mol dm-3
74 250

0.001
% ionization = x 100% = 0.93%
0.108

b. Ka = cα 2
2
 0.001 
= 0.108 x  
 0.108 
= 9.26 x 10-6 mol dm-3

pKa = - lg Ka
= 5.03

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 4 of 4