What is ionization constant?

The ionization constant, often represented as ( K_a ) for acids and ( K_b ) for bases, quantifies the extent to which a substance ionizes in solution. It is defined as the equilibrium constant for the dissociation reaction of an acid or base, indicating how well it can donate protons (for acids) or accept protons (for bases). A higher ionization constant implies a stronger acid or base, while a lower value indicates weaker ionizing ability.