Barbituric Acid dissociation constant

In summary, the problem involves finding the acid dissociation constant for barbituric acid, given a solution with a pH of 4.22 and concentrations of 0.020mol/dm3 for barbituric acid and 0.030mol/dm3 for sodium barbiturate. The addition of sodium barbiturate complicates the equation, but it can be assumed that the concentrations of HA and A- do not change significantly due to dissociation.
  • #1
BadatPhysicsguy
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Homework Statement


Barbituric acid is a single proton organic acid. Assume it is called "HA". Results show pH 4.22 in a solution of 0.020mol/dm3 of barbituric acid and 0.030mol/dm3 for sodium barbiturate, NaA. Calculate the "acid dissociation constant" for barbituric acid.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


How do I even start? Through the pH I can calculate number of protons (H3O+) but I don't know where to go from here, since they've added "sodium barbiturate" into the whole equation. Would have been easy (I think) if it was just:

HA + H2O ⇔ A- + H30+

But now there is some sodium barbituric acid, where does the sodium come from? Would appreciate help.
 
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  • #2
You can safely assume concentrations of HA and A- to be these given (in other words: once you put the acid and its salt into solution, their concentrations don't change by much due to dissociation; this is obvious if you know how buffers work).
 

1. What is the Barbituric Acid dissociation constant?

The Barbituric Acid dissociation constant, also known as pKa, is a measure of the strength of the acid. It is the equilibrium constant for the dissociation reaction of Barbituric Acid, where the acid donates a proton to form its conjugate base.

2. How is the Barbituric Acid dissociation constant calculated?

The Barbituric Acid dissociation constant can be calculated by taking the negative logarithm of the equilibrium constant (Ka) for the dissociation reaction. This is represented by the equation pKa = -log(Ka).

3. What factors can affect the Barbituric Acid dissociation constant?

The Barbituric Acid dissociation constant can be affected by temperature, solvent, and the presence of other molecules that can interact with the acid or its conjugate base. Additionally, the molecular structure of the acid can also influence its dissociation constant.

4. Why is the Barbituric Acid dissociation constant important?

The Barbituric Acid dissociation constant is important because it provides information about the strength of the acid. This knowledge can be used in various applications such as drug design, chemical reactions, and acid-base titrations.

5. How does the Barbituric Acid dissociation constant relate to a substance's acidity?

A lower pKa value indicates a stronger acid, meaning that the acid will more readily donate a proton in a chemical reaction. Therefore, the Barbituric Acid dissociation constant is directly related to the acidity of a substance.

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