Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
Definition
The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is a mathematical formula used to calculate the pH of a solution given the pKa (acid dissociation constant) and the ratio of the concentrations of the acid and its conjugate base.
Analogy
Think of this equation as a recipe for making lemonade. The pKa is like your recipe card, telling you how sour (acidic) your lemons are. The ratio of acid to conjugate base is like the amount of sugar you add - it can change how sour or sweet your lemonade tastes (the pH).
Related terms
pH: A measure of acidity or alkalinity in a solution, where lower values indicate higher acidity and higher values indicate more alkalinity.
pKa: A measure that indicates the strength of an acid in solution; lower values mean stronger acids.
Buffer Solution: A solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of an acid or base are added; it's made up from a weak acid and its conjugate base.
"Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation" appears in:
Study guides (3)
Practice Questions (4)
- Which of the following is a correct representation of the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation?
- According to the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, when the pH of a solution becomes equal to its pKa, the solution becomes a buffer. This condition is achieved when which of the following is true?
- The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation explains the relationship between which of the following?
- Which of the following statements about the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is always true?
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