Acetic acid has

CHEMISTRY · Subjective · AP · Chemistry · Acids and Bases · Acids and Bases

Problem

Acetic acid has

K_a = 1.8\times10^{-5}

. Experimental data show that each chlorine substituent on the

\alpha

-carbon increases

K_a

by roughly a factor of 25. Estimate the

pK_a

of dichloroacetic acid (two chlorines on the

\alpha

-carbon). Report your answer to two decimal places.