The question asks, "Butanoic acid has a partition coeff of 3.0 when distributed b/t water and benzene. Find the formal concentration of butanoic acid in each phase when 100 mL of 0.10 M aqueous butanoic acid is extracted with 25 mL of benzene at pH 10.00."
I know that the first step is to find D, where D = K(Ka)/[(Ka+[H+)].
So I calculated:
D = 3.0(1.52x10^-5)/[(1.52x10^-5+10^-10)].
The answer should have been D = 1.97 x 10^-5, but I didn't get this.
Please help!
3 answers
If the question is worded correctly, then Kd water/benzene = 3.0
However, the distribution coefficient USUALLY is listed as organic/water.
So how do I correct my mistake?