The pH of 0.1 M solution of cyanic acid (HCNO) is 2.34. Calculate the ionization constant of the acid and its degree of ionization in the solution.

Explanation

`HCNO leftrightarrow H^+ + CNO^-`
pH=2.34 means `-log[H^+]=2.34 or log[H^+]=-2.34=3.86`
or `[H^+]=` Antilog `3.86=4.57 times 10^-3 M`
`[CNO^-]=[H^+]=4.57 times 10^-3M`
`K_a=((4.57 times 10^-3)(4.57 times 10^-3))/0.1=2.09 times 10^-4`
`a=sqrt(K_a//C)=sqrt(2.09 times 10^-4//0.1)=0.0457`