Question

The Kₐ for chlorous acid, HClO₂, is 1.2 x 10⁻². What is the equilibrium expression that accompanies this value when chlorous acid reacts with water?

a) [H⁺][ClO₂⁻] / [HClO₂]
b) [HClO₂] / [H⁺][ClO₂⁻]
c) [H⁺][ClO₂⁻] × [HClO₂]
d) [HClO₂] × [H⁺][ClO₂⁻]

Answer 1

The equilibrium expression that accompanies the given value of Kₐ for chlorous acid (HClO₂) when it reacts with water is [HClO₂] / [H⁺][ClO₂⁻] . The option (B) is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The equilibrium expression that accompanies the given value of Kₐ for chlorous acid (HClO₂) when it reacts with water is: [HClO₂] / [H⁺][ClO₂⁻]

The equation for the dissociation of chlorous acid in water is:

HClO₂(aq) → H⁺(aq) + ClO₂⁻(aq)

The equilibrium expression is formed by taking the concentrations of the products (H⁺ and ClO₂⁻) over the concentration of the reactant (HClO₂). Therefore, the correct equilibrium expression is [HClO₂] / [H⁺][ClO₂⁻]. Therefore, option (B) is correct.