Pharmaceutical Chemistry Physicochemical Properties of Drug Molecules

Ionization and pKa

Topic overview

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A drug’s pKa is the pH at which half of a specific ionizable group is ionized. For weak acids, ionization increases as pH rises above pKa; for weak bases, it increases as pH falls below pKa. The Henderson–Hasselbalch equation describes the relationship between pH, pKa, and the ionized-to-unionized ratio. In general, unionized forms cross membranes more readily, while ionized forms dissolve better in aqueous media. These principles help explain pH-dependent absorption, salt selection, and formulation decisions. Molecules with multiple ionizable groups can have multiple pKa values, while zwitterions have an isoelectric point at which their net charge is zero. The lesson also distinguishes logP from pH-dependent logD and introduces how ionization relates to protein binding and drug design.

Learning objectives

What you'll learn

  • Define pKa and describe its relationship to the ionization of acidic and basic groups.
  • Explain how pH relative to pKa affects weak acids and weak bases.
  • Relate ionization state to membrane permeability and aqueous solubility.
  • Distinguish multiple pKa values, isoelectric point, logP, and logD.
  • Identify formulation and drug-design considerations influenced by ionization.
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