Midterm Q3-C

[MariahClark 2F]

Can someone please explain the reasoning behind the answer for Q3C on the midterm please, Im thinking way too hard.

[sharonvivianv]

Partial Answer:
[HA] = 0
can't be true because they gave you [HA] in the problem already
[HA] = Ka
can't be true because of the relationship between pKa and Ka (pKa = -logKa)

[sharonvivianv]

If you write the equation out you get

HA +H2O -> A- +H3O+

you know that A- and H3O+ concentrations are equal to x and [HA] was 0.1-x so it can't be

[HA]=[H3O+] or [HA]=[A-]

so the answer is [HA] can't equal [H3O+]

[MariahClark 2F]

Thank you so much!

[Roberto Gonzalez 1L]

Given that pKa=10 , and that it is a weak acid, an amount x is ionized so there is an x amount of hydronium. However being that HA is a weak acid the amount ionized is very small compared to [HA] therefore it cannot equal [H30+].