Asked by ny

What is the relationship between Ka and Kb with Kw?
The sum of Ka and Kb equals the auto-dissociation constant for water.
The product of Ka and Kb equals the auto-dissociation constant for water.
The quotient of Ka and Kb equals the auto-dissociation constant for water.
The difference of Ka and Kb equals the auto-dissociation constant for water.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
The product: Ka · Kb = Kw.

Reason: For a conjugate acid HA and its conjugate base A–,
Ka = [H3O+][A–]/[HA] and Kb = [OH–][HA]/[A–].
Multiplying cancels [HA] and [A–], giving Ka·Kb = [H3O+][OH–] = Kw.
(Thus pKa + pKb = pKw; at 25 °C pKw ≈ 14.)