This question is about weak acids.
Propanoic acid, CH3CH2COOH\text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{COOH}CH3CH2COOH, is a weak monobasic acid.
Write the expression for the acid dissociation constant, KaK_aKa, of CH3CH2COOH\text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{COOH}CH3CH2COOH.
The expression for the acid dissociation constant, KaK_aKa, of CH3CH2COOH\text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{COOH}CH3CH2COOH can be simplified to:
Ka=[H+]2[CH3CH2COOH]K_a = \frac{[\text{H}^+]^2}{[\text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{COOH}]}Ka=[CH3CH2COOH][H+]2
State one approximation that allows the original expression to be simplified to this form.
A student carries out an experiment to determine the pKa\text{p}K_apKa value of a solution of CH3CH2COOH\text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{COOH}CH3CH2COOH.
Use the simplified expression to calculate the pKa\text{p}K_apKa value of CH3CH2COOH\text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{COOH}CH3CH2COOH. Give your answer to 2 decimal places.