Asked by j

What is the relationship between Ka and Kb with Kw?

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
For a conjugate acid–base pair (HA and A−),

Ka = [H+][A−]/[HA] and Kb = [HA][OH−]/[A−].

Multiplying these gives Ka·Kb = [H+][OH−] = Kw.

So Ka·Kb = Kw (and taking -log10 gives pKa + pKb = pKw). At 25 °C, Kw ≈ 1.0×10^−14, so Ka·Kb ≈ 1.0×10^−14 and pKa + pKb ≈ 14.00. Note Kw (and thus pKw) depends on temperature.