The pKa Values of Water in Water: A Long-Standing, Tiresome, yet Soon Forgotten Issue?

Abstract

The pKa values of water and the hydrogen ion (proton) in water are 14 and 0, respectively. Yet, many textbooks of general, organic, and, to a lesser extent, inorganic chemistry provide the incorrect values 15.74 and -1.74, respectively. This column briefly introduces the long-standing issue of these two different pairs of values, the consequences it bears when teaching general chemistry, and expresses the hope that it may be solved soon.