pK

Revenged

What is the pK?

What does it mean when the pK decreases (in terms of reactants and products)?

Thanks

Reply 1

Knogle

Wikipedia explains this fairly well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociation_constant

Reply 2

gyrase

pK is the acid dissociation constant.

http://www.answers.com/acid%20constant

Reply 3

oxymoron

Revenged

What is the pK?

What does it mean when the pK decreases (in terms of reactants and products)?

Thanks

As pK decreases, Kd increases and you get more of the dissociated form

Reply 4

oxymoron

Gnarl

pK is the acid dissociation constant.

http://www.answers.com/acid%20constant

Strictly, Ka is the acid dissociation constant

pKa is the pK of an acid

pK can be related to any dissociation - doesn't have to be an acid (it is often used in biology for enzyme/substrate binding for example)

Reply 5

gyrase

oxymoron

Ah I see, I assumed pKa as the thread's posted in the chemistry forum.

Reply 6

oxymoron

Gnarl

Ah I see, I assumed pKa as the thread's posted in the chemistry forum.

Yes, well it is a chemistry concept - just used in biology sometimes.

pKa is a specific form of the pK (as is pKw - dissociation of water)

Reply 7

Revenged

oxymoron

Yes, well it is a chemistry concept - just used in biology sometimes.

pKa is a specific form of the pK (as is pKw - dissociation of water)

"The conjugation of cholic acid with glycine lowers its pK"

So if the pKa is lowered, this increases the Ka and more H+ ions are released from cholic acid?

Reply 8

oxymoron

Revenged

"The conjugation of cholic acid with glycine lowers its pK"

So if the pKa is lowered, this increases the Ka and more H+ ions are released from cholic acid?