
The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation can be written as: pH = pKa An acid dissociation constant, Ka, (also known as acidity constant, or acid-ionization constant) is a quantitative measure of the strength of an acid in solution. It is the equilibrium constant for a chemical reaction known as dissociation in the context of acid–base reactions.Acid dissociation constant
How do you calculate pH using the Hendeson Hasselbalch equation?
The most common form of the Hendeson - Hasselbalch equation allows you to calculate the pH of a buffer solution that contains a weak acid and its conjugate base pH = pKa +log([conjugate base] [weak acid]) Here pKa is equal to pKa = −log(Ka), where
How do you calculate the Henderson Hasselbalch equation?
Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation. The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relates pH, pKa, and molar concentration (concentration in units of moles per liter): apH = pK + log ([A -]/[HA]) [A -] = molar concentration of a conjugate base. [HA] = molar concentration of an undissociated weak acid (M)
What is PKA in the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation?
pH, pKa, and Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation 1 The pKa is the pH value at which a chemical species will accept or donate a proton. 2 The lower the pKa, the stronger the acid and the greater the ability to donate a proton in aqueous solution. 3 The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relates pKa and pH. ...
How do you find the pH of a buffer solution?
The pH of a buffer solution can be estimated with the help of this equation when the concentration of the acid and its conjugate base, or the base and the corresponding conjugate acid, are known. The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation can be written as: pH = pKa + log10 ([A–]/ [HA])

How do you calculate pH in Henderson-Hasselbalch equation?
Henderson-Hasselbalch EquationapH = pK + log ([A-]/[HA]) [A-] = molar concentration of a conjugate base.The equation can be rewritten to solve for pOH: pOH = pKb + log ([HB+]/[ B ])[ B ] = molar concentration of a weak base (M) ... pH = pKa + log ([A-]/[HA]) ... pH = -log (1.8 x 10-5) + log (2.5)
How do you calculate the pH of a buffer?
Our buffer pH calculator provides you with an effortless way to compute the pH of any kind of buffer solution....How to calculate the pH of a buffer solution?pH = -log₁₀(H);Ka – Acid dissociation constant;[HA] – Concentration of the acid;[A⁻] – Concentration of conjugate base; and.pKa = -log₁₀(Ka).
How do I calculate pH?
To calculate the pH of an aqueous solution you need to know the concentration of the hydronium ion in moles per liter (molarity). The pH is then calculated using the expression: pH = - log [H3O+].
How do you calculate pH from pKa?
pH is equal to the sum of the pKa value and the log of the conjugate base concentration divided by the weak acid concentration.
How do you calculate the pH change in a buffer solution?
0:307:08Calculating the pH Change in a Buffer Solution - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe new pH after adding zero point zero one zero mole of solid NaOH to the buffer.MoreThe new pH after adding zero point zero one zero mole of solid NaOH to the buffer.
How do you calculate the pH of a buffer solution after adding acid?
0:034:43Find the pH of a Buffer after Adding HCl - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause buffers do resist changes in ph. Now the equation we use to calculate the ph of buffers. IsMoreBecause buffers do resist changes in ph. Now the equation we use to calculate the ph of buffers. Is usually the henderson-hasselbalch equation ph equals pka plus the log of base over acid.
How do you calculate pH without a calculator?
2:0421:09How To Calculate The pH of a Solution Without a CalculatorYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you know log 2 to log 9. This will be very helpful log 4 according to this table is 0.6. SoMoreSo if you know log 2 to log 9. This will be very helpful log 4 according to this table is 0.6. So the answer is going to be 3 minus 0.6 which is 2.4.
How do you calculate the pH of an acid base solution?
8:249:04Calculating the pH after a weak acid–strong base reaction ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipConcentration of hydronium ions therefore at equilibrium the concentration of hydronium ions isMoreConcentration of hydronium ions therefore at equilibrium the concentration of hydronium ions is equal to 1.8. Times 10 to the negative fifth molar. And because our goal was to find the ph of the
Is pH and pKa the same?
The pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution. pKa (acid dissociation constant) and pH are related, but pKa is more specific in that it helps you predict what a molecule will do at a specific pH.
How do you find pH given molarity and pKa?
SolutionsWe use the dissociation of water equation to find [OH-]. Kw = [H3O+][OH-] = 1.0 X 10-14 Solve for [OH-] ... pH = -log[H3O+] Plug the molarity of the HCl in and solve for pH. ... pH = -log[H3O+] Plug in the pH and solve for [H3O+] ... pH + pOH = 14. Solve for pH. ... There are several ways to do this problem. Answer 1.
Are pKa and pH directly related?
Relative Acidity and pKa Values. An application of the Henderson-Hasselbach Equation is the ability to determine the relative acidity of compounds by comparing their pKa values. The stronger an acid, the greater the ionization, the lower the pKa, and the lower the pH the compound will produce in solution.
What is the pH of a buffer?
The pH of a buffer is determined by two factors; 1) The equilibrium constant Ka of the weak acid and 2) the ratio of weak base [A-] to weak acid [HA] in solution.
How do you calculate the pH of a buffer solution after adding Naoh?
0:215:25Find the pH of a Buffer after adding NaOH - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe usually use the henderson-hasselbalch equation the ph equals the pka. Plus the log of base overMoreWe usually use the henderson-hasselbalch equation the ph equals the pka. Plus the log of base over acid.
How will you calculate the pH of a buffer before and after the addition of added acid or base using the Henderson-Hasselbalch approximation?
7.24: Calculating pH of Buffer Solutions- Henderson-Hasselbalch equation[H3O+]=Ka×[HA][A−]−log [H3O+]=−log Ka−log[HA][A−]pH=pKa+ log[A−][HA][CH3COOH][CH3COO−][H3O+]=Ka[CH3COOH][CH3COO−]
How do you calculate buffer in a level chemistry?
0:512:45A LEVEL CHEMISTRY EXAM QUESTION WALKTHROUGHYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd now we just need to put the numbers in so the ka for the acid is 1.75 times 10 to the minus 5.MoreAnd now we just need to put the numbers in so the ka for the acid is 1.75 times 10 to the minus 5. The acid concentration was given in the question 0.2 moles per estimated cubed.
Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relates pH, pKa, and molar concentration (concentration in units of moles per liter):
Example Problem Applying the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
Calculate the pH of a buffer solution made from 0.20 M HC 2 H 3 O 2 and 0.50 M C 2 H 3 O 2- that has an acid dissociation constant for HC 2 H 3 O 2 of 1.8 x 10 -5 .
Why is Henderson-Hasselbalch an approximation?
The reason the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is an approximation is because it takes water chemistry out of the equation. This works when water is the solvent and is present in a very large proportion to the [H+] and acid/conjugate base. You shouldn't try to apply the approximation for concentrated solutions.
How to determine pH of a solution?
Once you have pH or pKa values, you know certain things about a solution and how it compares with other solutions: 1 The lower the pH, the higher the concentration of hydrogen ions [H + ]. 2 The lower the pKa, the stronger the acid and the greater its ability to donate protons. 3 pH depends on the concentration of the solution. This is important because it means a weak acid could actually have a lower pH than a diluted strong acid. For example, concentrated vinegar (acetic acid, which is a weak acid) could have a lower pH than a dilute solution of hydrochloric acid (a strong acid). 4 On the other hand, the pKa value is constant for each type of molecule. It is unaffected by concentration. 5 Even a chemical ordinarily considered a base can have a pKa value because the terms "acids" and "bases" simply refer to whether a species will give up protons (acid) or remove them (base). For example, if you have a base Y with a pKa of 13, it will accept protons and form YH, but when the pH exceeds 13, YH will be deprotonated and become Y. Because Y removes protons at a pH greater than the pH of neutral water (7), it is considered a base.
How to find pH if you know pKa?
If you know either pH or pKa, you can solve for the other value using an approximation called the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation: pH is the sum of the pKa value and the log of the concentration of the conjugate base divided by the concentration of the weak acid.
What does pH and pKa mean?
Once you have pH or pKa values, you know certain things about a solution and how it compares with other solutions: The lower the pH, the higher the concentration of hydrogen ions [H + ]. The lower the pKa, the stronger the acid and the greater its ability to donate protons. pH depends on the concentration of the solution.
What is the difference between pH and pKa?
The pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution. pKa ( acid dissociation constant) and pH are related, but pKa is more specific in that it helps you predict what a molecule will do at a specific pH.
How to find pH of conjugate base?
pH is the sum of the pKa value and the log of the concentration of the conjugate base divided by the concentration of the weak acid. At half the equivalence point: pH = pKa. It's worth noting sometimes this equation is written for the K a value rather than pKa, so you should know the relationship: pKa = -logK a.
Why is pH important?
pH depends on the concentration of the solution. This is important because it means a weak acid could actually have a lower pH than a diluted strong acid. For example, concentrated vinegar (acetic acid, which is a weak acid) could have a lower pH than a dilute solution of hydrochloric acid (a strong acid).
What is the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation?
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is a numerical expression which relates the pH, pKa and Buffer Action of a buffer. A buffer is a solution which can resist the change in pH. Chemically, a buffer is a solution of equimolar concentration of a weak acid (such as acetic acid – CH3COOH) and its conjugate base (such as acetate ion – CH3COO¯). In the previous post, we have discussed the Titration Curve of a weak acid and the Derivation of Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation. The characteristic shape of the titration curve of a weak acid is also described by the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. In this chapter we will discuss the methods to calculate the pH or pKa of a buffer using Henderson-Hasselbalch equation using sample problems.
What is pH in chemistry?
pH – the negative logarithm of H⁺ ion concentration in the medium.
What is the ratio of acetate to acetic acid required to get a pH of 5.20?
Answer: The ratio of acetate to acetic acid required to get a pH of 5.20 is 2.75
Can you use Henderson-Hasselbalch equation to calculate pH?
This is a straight question and you can directly apply the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. All the required components to calculate the pH are given in the question itself.
Can you direct apply Henderson-Hasselbalch equation?
You cannot direct apply the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation here because it is an indirect question. First you need to rearrange the equation accordingly.
How to Use the Henderson Hasselbalch Calculator?
Step 1: Enter the molar concentration of the conjugate base, acid, dissociation constant in the input field
What is the Henderson Hasselbalch equation used for?
In chemistry, the Henderson Hasselbalch equation is used to calculate the hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of the buffer solution. We know that the solution consists of a strong acid and a weak conjugate base or the strong base and weak conjugate acid. We can say that an acid is a proton donor and the base is a proton acceptor. The Henderson Hasselbalch equation to calculate the hydrogen ion concentration is

What Is The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation?
- The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation provides a relationship between the pH of acids (in aqueous solutions) and their pKa(acid dissociation constant). The pH of a buffer solution can be estimated with the help of this equation when the concentration of the acid and its conjugate ba…
Table of Contents
Derivation of The Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
- The ionization constants of strong acids and strong bases can be easily calculated with the help of direct methods. However, the same methods cannot be used with weak acids and bases since the extent of ionization of these acids and basesis very low (weak acids and bases hardly ionize). Therefore, in order to approximate the pH of these types of solutions, the Henderson-Hasselbalc…
Important Points to Remember
- When exactly half of the acid undergoes dissociation, the value of [A]/[HA] becomes 1, implying that the pKa of the acid is equal to the pH of the solution at this point. (pH = pKa + log10(1) = pKa).
- For every unit change in the pH to pKa ratio, a tenfold change occurs in the ratio of the associated acid to the dissociated acid. For example, when the pKa of the acid is 7 and the p…
- When exactly half of the acid undergoes dissociation, the value of [A]/[HA] becomes 1, implying that the pKa of the acid is equal to the pH of the solution at this point. (pH = pKa + log10(1) = pKa).
- For every unit change in the pH to pKa ratio, a tenfold change occurs in the ratio of the associated acid to the dissociated acid. For example, when the pKa of the acid is 7 and the pH of the solut...
- The value of [A–]/[HA] is dependent on the value of the pH and pKa. When pH < pKa; [A–]/[HA] < 1. When pH > pKa; [A–]/[HA] > 1.
Limitations of The Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
- The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation fails to predict accurate values for the strong acids and strong bases because it assumes that the concentration of the acid and its conjugate base at chemical equilibriumwill remain the same as the formal concentration (the binding of protons to the base is neglected). Since the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation does not consider the self-di…
Solved Example
- A buffer solution is made from 0.4M CH3COOH and 0.6M CH3COO–. If the acid dissociation constant of CH3COOH is 1.8*10-5, what is the pH of the buffer solution? As per the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, pH = pKa + log([CH3COO–]/[CH3COOH]) Here, Ka = 1.8*10-5 ⇒ pKa= -log(1.8*10-5) = 4.7 (approx.). Substituting the values, we get: pH = 4.7 + log(0.6M /0.4M) = 4.7 + …
Ph and Pka
Relating Ph and Pka with The Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
- If you know either pH or pKa, you can solve for the other value using an approximation called the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation: pH = pKa + log ([conjugate base]/[weak acid]) pH = pka+log ([A-]/[HA]) pH is the sum of the pKa value and the log of the concentration of the conjugate base divided by the concentration of the weak acid. At half the equi...
Assumptions For The Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
- The reason the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is an approximation is because it takes water chemistry out of the equation. This works when water is the solvent and is present in a very large proportion to the [H+] and acid/conjugate base. You shouldn't try to apply the approximation for concentrated solutions. Use the approximation only when the following conditions are met: 1. −…
Example Pka and Ph Problem
- Find [H+] for a solution of 0.225 M NaNO2 and 1.0 M HNO2. The Ka value (from a table) of HNO2 is 5.6 x 10-4. pKa = −log Ka = −log(7.4×10−4) = 3.14 pH = pka + log ([A-]/[HA]) pH = pKa + log([NO2-]/[HNO2]) pH = 3.14 + log(1/0.225) pH = 3.14 + 0.648 = 3.788 [H+] = 10−pH = 10−3.788 = 1.6×10−4
Sources
- de Levie, Robert. “The Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation: Its History and Limitations.” Journal of Chemical Education, 2003.
- Hasselbalch, K. A. "Die Berechnung der Wasserstoffzahl des Blutes aus der freien und gebundenen Kohlensäure desselben, und die Sauerstoffbindung des Blutes als Funktion der Wasserstoffzahl." Bioche...
- de Levie, Robert. “The Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation: Its History and Limitations.” Journal of Chemical Education, 2003.
- Hasselbalch, K. A. "Die Berechnung der Wasserstoffzahl des Blutes aus der freien und gebundenen Kohlensäure desselben, und die Sauerstoffbindung des Blutes als Funktion der Wasserstoffzahl." Bioche...
- Henderson , Lawrence J. "Concerning the relationship between the strength of acids and their capacity to preserve neutrality." American Journal of Physiology-Legacy Content, vol. 21, no. 2, Feb. 19...
- Po, Henry N., and N. M. Senozan. “The Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation: Its History and Limitations.” Journal of Chemical Education, vol. 78, no. 11, 2001, p. 1499.