Skip to main content
Back

Principal Species definitions

Control buttons has been changed to "navigation" mode.
1/12
  • Acid Dissociation Constant
    A numerical measure indicating how easily an acidic hydrogen is removed, reflecting acid strength.
  • Ka
    A value greater than 1 signals a strong acid, while less than 1 indicates a weak acid.
  • pKa
    A logarithmic transformation of Ka, used to compare with pH to predict predominant solution species.
  • Principal Species
    The chemical form, acidic or basic, present in the highest concentration under specific pH conditions.
  • Monoprotic Acid
    A substance capable of donating only one proton per molecule during dissociation.
  • Acidic Form
    The species that predominates when solution pH is less than the pKa value.
  • Basic Form
    The species that predominates when solution pH exceeds the pKa value.
  • pH
    A measure of hydrogen ion concentration, used to determine which chemical form predominates.
  • Diprotic Acid
    A molecule capable of donating two protons, with pH and pKa relationships applying to each step.
  • Polyprotic Acid
    A molecule able to donate more than one proton, with multiple pKa values influencing species distribution.
  • A Minus
    The deprotonated, basic form of an acid, represented as the conjugate base in equilibrium.
  • Dividing Line
    The point where pH equals pKa, resulting in equal concentrations of acidic and basic forms.