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JEE Main 20262 AprilEvening Shift
Exam
JEE Main
Year
2026
Date
2 April
Shift
Evening Shift
Subject
Chemistry
Chapter
Ionic Equilibrium

JEE Main 2026 · 2 April · Evening Shift · Chemistry · Ionic Equilibrium

The first and second ionization constants of a weak dibasic acid...

The first and second ionization constants of a weak dibasic acid H2AH_2 A are 8.1×10−88.1 \times 10^{-8} and 1.0×10−131.0 \times 10^{-13} respectively. 0.10.1 mol of H2AH_2 A was dissolved in 11 L of 0.10.1 M HCl solution. The concentration of HA−HA^- in the resultant solution is:

Options

  1. A0.10.1 M
  2. B9.53×10−69.53 \times 10^{-6} M
  3. C8.1×10−88.1 \times 10^{-8} M
  4. D1.0×10−131.0 \times 10^{-13} M

Correct answer

C. 8.1×10−88.1 \times 10^{-8} M

Step-by-step solution

Given:
Weak dibasic acid H2AH_2A with Ka1=8.1×10−8K_{a1} = 8.1 \times 10^{-8} and Ka2=1.0×10−13K_{a2} = 1.0 \times 10^{-13}
Initial concentration: [H2A]0=0.1 M[H_2A]_0 = 0.1\text{ M}
The solution also contains 0.1 M HCl0.1\text{ M HCl}, which dissociates completely to give [H+]0=0.1 M[H^+]_0 = 0.1\text{ M}.

The main source of HA−HA^- is the first dissociation:
H2A⇌H++HA−H_2A \rightleftharpoons H^+ + HA^-

Let xx be the amount of H2AH_2A that dissociates. Then at equilibrium:
[H2A]=0.1−x[H_2A] = 0.1 - x
[H+]=0.1+x[H^+] = 0.1 + x
[HA−]=x[HA^-] = x

Applying the equilibrium expression:
Ka1=[H+][HA−][H2A]K_{a1} = \dfrac{[H^+][HA^-]}{[H_2A]}

8.1×10−8=(0.1+x)(x)0.1−x8.1 \times 10^{-8} = \dfrac{(0.1 + x)(x)}{0.1 - x}

Since Ka1K_{a1} is very small and the common H+H^+ ion from HCl suppresses dissociation, x≪0.1x \ll 0.1. Hence:
0.1−x≈0.10.1 - x \approx 0.1 and 0.1+x≈0.10.1 + x \approx 0.1

8.1×10−8≈(0.1)(x)0.1=x8.1 \times 10^{-8} \approx \dfrac{(0.1)(x)}{0.1} = x

Therefore:
[HA−]=x=8.1×10−8 M[HA^-] = x = 8.1 \times 10^{-8}\text{ M}

The second dissociation (Ka2=1.0×10−13K_{a2} = 1.0 \times 10^{-13}) is negligible compared to the first, so the HA−HA^- consumed in that step is insignificant.

Hence, the correct option is (3) 8.1×10−8 M(3)\ 8.1 \times 10^{-8}\text{ M}.
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