Answer to Question #213041 in General Chemistry for Alaa Aboukhadra

Question

For a reaction system at chemical equilibrium that contains a Bronsted-Lowry acid/base conjugate pair

Ka, Kb, and Kw all contain the concentration of water as a component

Ka and Kb are directly related

the reaction is always shifted to the right if the concentration of acid species decreases

the coefficients are not always one

the reaction direction favored is always shifted toward the side with the acidic form of the pair if a strong acid is added

the reaction direction favored is always shifted toward the side with the basic form of the pair if a strong acid is added

 

the coefficients are always one

Ka and Kb are inversely related

Answer 1

Ka * Kb is equivalent to adding the acid and base reactions together, which results in a net equation of the autoionization of water. It's not a neutralization/acid-base reaction, but I think the Kw = Ka * Kb is a mathematical relation made to expedite calculations.