pKa

pKa is a measurement that tells us how easily a substance, called an acid, gives up a hydrogen ion (a tiny, positively charged particle). It helps us understand the strength of the acid: lower pKa values mean the acid tends to release its hydrogen easily (strong acid), while higher pKa values indicate it’s less willing to do so (weak acid). Think of pKa as a scale of acidity; the smaller the number, the stronger the acid. It's a useful concept in chemistry for predicting how acids behave in different environments.