Related Formula
For a salt of weak acid and weak base (like ammonium acetate):
pH = (1)/(2) (pKw + pKₐ - pKb)$$\mathrm{pH} = \frac{1}{2} (\mathrm{p}K_w + \mathrm{p}K_a - \mathrm{p}K_b)$$
Core Logic
Ammonium acetate (CH₃COONH₄$CH_3COONH_4$) is a salt formed from a weak acid (CH₃COOH$CH_3COOH$) and a weak base (NH₄OH$NH_4OH$).
Given:
Kₐ = 1.8 × 10⁻⁵$K_a = 1.8 \times 10^{-5}$
Kb = 1.8 × 10⁻⁵$K_b = 1.8 \times 10^{-5}$
Since Kₐ = Kb$K_a = K_b$, taking the negative logarithm gives pKₐ = pKb$\mathrm{p}K_a = \mathrm{p}K_b$.
Step 1: Calculate pH
pH = pKw + pKₐ - pKb2$$\mathrm{pH} = \frac{\mathrm{p}K_w + \mathrm{p}K_a - \mathrm{p}K_b}{2}$$
Substitute pKₐ = pKb$\mathrm{p}K_a = \mathrm{p}K_b$:
pH = pKw2$$\mathrm{pH} = \frac{\mathrm{p}K_w}{2}$$
At standard temperature (298 K), pKw = 14$\mathrm{p}K_w = 14$.
pH = (14)/(2) = 7$$\mathrm{pH} = \frac{14}{2} = 7$$
Pattern Recognition
If Kₐ = Kb$K_a = K_b$ for a weak acid-weak base salt, the hydrolysis of cation and anion perfectly balance out, making the resulting solution exactly neutral (pH = 7) regardless of the concentration of the salt.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Chemistry: Equilibrium