Multiple Equilibria
Consider the case of a dibasic acid H2A. When dissolved in water, the mixture will contain H2A, HA- and A2-. This equilibrium can be split into two steps in each of which one proton is liberated.
K1 and K2 are examples of stepwise equilibrium constants. The overall equilibrium constant,, is product of the stepwise constants.
Note that these constants are dissociation constants because the products on the right hand side of the equilibrium expression are dissociation products. In many systems, it is preferable to use association constants.
β1 and β2 are examples of association constants. Clearly β1 = 1/K2 and β2 = 1/βD; lg β1 = pK2 and lg β2 = pK2 + pK1 For multiple equilibrium systems, also see: theory of Response reactions.
Read more about this topic: Chemical Equilibrium
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