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The acid dissociation constant, usually indicated as its pKa value, is a fundamental property of weak acids and bases. For compounds with a single ionizable group, it is defined as the pH at which a compound is 50% ionized. Once the pKa value is established, the extent of ionization at any pH for that compound is easily calculated. This is an important property for weak acids and bases since the physicochemical properties of the neutral and ionized forms are generally different. The ionized form is usually more water soluble, while the neutral form is more lipophilic and has higher membrane permeability. The extent of ionization is one of several cardinal properties used to estimate the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of compounds in biological systems and the environment. These properties are critical to the development of new human and veterinary drugs, crop protecting agents, etc.