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pKa of conjugate acid relating to strength of base

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 4:25 pm
by briannam_1F
My friend and I are having trouble understanding the homework question 6C.13.

Can someone please clarify what the question is asking? We were given pKa and we decided from the question to solve for pKb, but now were are unsure what these values mean and how we should rank them.

Thanks in advance!

Re: pKa of conjugate acid relating to strength of base

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 4:33 pm
by sarahsalama2E
remember that pka+pka= 14. we need the pkb values because the question asks us to arrange the BASES in order of strength based on the pkA values of their conjugate acids. the lower the pKa/pKb the stronger of an acid or a base it is. hope that helps you.

Re: pKa of conjugate acid relating to strength of base

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 7:02 pm
by Yiyang Jen Wang 4G
We need pka to solve for pkb, and then we can rank the bases in order of strength. The larger the pka value : the smaller the pkb, the weaker the acid, and the stronger the conjugate base. Therefore ethylamine is the strongest base.