1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Chemistry
  4. K a for formic acid and acetic acid are 1.7 × 10-4 and 1.1 × 10-5 respectively. The relative strength of acid is .

Question Error Report

Thank you for reporting, we will resolve it shortly

Back to Question

Q. $K _{ a }$ for formic acid and acetic acid are $1.7 \times 10^{-4}$ and $1.1 \times 10^{-5}$ respectively. The relative strength of acid is ____.

Equilibrium

Solution:

Relative strength of weak acids

$=\sqrt{\left(\frac{ K _{ a _{1}}}{ K _{ a _{2}}} \times \frac{ C _{1}}{ C _{2}}\right)}$

Assume $C_{1}$ and $C_{2}$ are same (Although not given)

$\therefore $ Relative strength $=\sqrt{\left(\frac{K_{a_{1}}}{K_{a_{2}}}\right)}=\sqrt{\left(\frac{1.7 \times 10^{-4}}{1.1 \times 10^{-5}}\right)}$

Relative strength for $HCOOH$ to $CH _{3} COOH =4: 1$