The dissociation constants of formic acid and acetic acid are `1.77 xx 10 ^(-4) and 1. 75 xx 10 ^(-5)` respectively. Calculate the relative strengths of the two acids.

Explanation

`("Strength of Formic acid")/("Strength of Acetic acid") = sqrt((K_(a) " Formic acid")/(K_(a) " Acetic acid")) = sqrt((1.77 xx 10^(-4))/(1.75 xx 10^(-5))) = 3.18`
Thus, formic acid is 3.18 times stronger than acetic acid.