Pka
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Pka (pronounced as "P-K-A") is a term used in Chemistry and Biochemistry to denote the acid dissociation constant. It is a quantitative measure of the strength of an acid in solution.
Etymology
The term "Pka" is derived from the Swedish term "Potens", meaning power, and "K", the symbol for the equilibrium constant. The "a" stands for acid.
Definition
The Pka value is defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the acid dissociation constant (Ka) of a solution. It is used to indicate the acidity or basicity of a substance. The lower the Pka value, the stronger the acid. Conversely, the higher the Pka value, the weaker the acid.
Related Terms
- Acid Dissociation Constant: Also known as Ka, it is the equilibrium constant for a chemical reaction known as dissociation in the context of acid-base reactions.
- Logarithm: A mathematical concept that is used to calculate the Pka value.
- Equilibrium Constant: A number that expresses the relationship between the amounts of products and reactants present at equilibrium in a chemical reaction.
- Acid: A molecule or ion capable of donating a proton (hydrogen ion H+), or, alternatively, capable of forming a covalent bond with an electron pair.
- Base (chemistry): Substances that, in aqueous solution, are slippery to the touch, taste astringent, change the color of indicators, react with acids to form salts, promote certain chemical reactions (base catalysis), accept protons from any proton donor, and/or contain completely or partially displaceable OH− ions.
See Also
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