In the context of acid-base equilibria, the section explores the relationship between the acid dissociation constant (Ka) and the base dissociation constant (Kb) of conjugate acid-base pairs. For example, when examining ammonium (NH4+) as a conjugate acid of ammonia (NH3), the dissociation reactions can be represented:
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NH4+(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ H3O+(aq) + NH3(aq)
Here, Ka is introduced, representing the strength of NH4+ as an acid, calculated from the concentrations at equilibrium.
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NH3(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ NH4+(aq) + OH−(aq)
Kb is introduced for ammonia, indicating its strength as a base.
By deriving the relationship from both equations, it is seen that: Ka × Kb = Kw, where Kw = 1.0 × 10^−14 at 25°C. This illustrates that strong acids have weak conjugate bases and vice versa. The section emphasizes that understanding the relationship allows for the derivation of the unknown constant if one is known, providing insight into the equilibrium behaviors of acids and bases.