CHAPTER 14

THE CHEMISTRY OF
ACIDS AND BASES

"ACID"
Latin word acidus, meaning
sour.
(lemon)

"ALKALI"

Water solutions feel slippery

and
taste bitter (soap).

ACID-BASE
THEORIES

Arrhenius Definition
acid--donates a hydrogen ion
(H+) in water
base--donates a hydroxide ion
in water (OH-)
This theory was limited to
substances with those "parts";
ammonia is a MAJOR exception!

Bronsted-Lowry
Definition
acid--donates a proton in water
base--accepts a proton in water

This theory is better; it explains

ammonia as a base! This is the main
theory that we will use for our
acid/base discussion.

Lewis Definition
acid--accepts an electron pair
base--donates an electron pair
This theory explains all traditional
acids and bases + a host of
coordination compounds and is
used
widely in organic chemistry. Uses

The Bronsted-Lowry
Concept of Acids and Bases
Using this theory, you should be
able to write weak acid/base
dissociation equations and
identify
acid, base, conjugate acid and
conjugate base.

Conjugate Acid-Base Pair

A pair of compounds that differ
by the presence of one H+ unit.
This idea is critical when it comes
to understanding buffer systems.

Acids
donate a proton (H+)

Neutral Compound
HNO3 + H2O H3O+ +
NO3acid
base
CA
CB

Cation
NH4+ + H2O H3O+ +
NH3
acid
base
CA
CB

Anion
H2PO4- + H20
HPO42acid
base

H3O+ +
CA

CB

In each of the acid examples---notice

the formation of H3O+

This species is named the hydronium

ion.
It lets you know that the solution is
acidic!

Hydronium, H3O+
--H+ riding piggy-back on a water
molecule.

Water is polar and the + charge of the

naked proton is greatly attracted to
Mickey's chin!)

Bases
accept a proton (H+)

Neutral Compound
NH3 + H2O NH4+ +
OHbase
acid
CA
CB

Anion
CO32- + H2O HCO3- +
OHbase
acid
CA
CB

Anion
PO43- +
OHbase
CB

H2O HPO42- +
acid

CA

In each of the basic examples-notice the formation of OH- -this

species is named the hydroxide
ion. It lets you know that the
solution is basic!

Exercise 1
In the following reaction, identify
the acid on the left and its CB on
the right. Similarly identify the base
on the left and its CA on the right.
HBr + NH3 NH4+ + Br-

What is the conjugate base of

H2S?
What is the conjugate acid of
NO3-?

ACIDS ONLY DONATE

ONE PROTON AT A
TIME!!!

 monoprotic--acids donating one

H+ (ex. HC2H3O2)
diprotic--acids donating two
H+'s (ex. H2C2O4)
polyprotic--acids donating
many H+'s (ex. H3PO4)

Polyprotic Bases
accept more than one H+
anions with -2 and -3 charges
(example: PO43- ; HPO42-)

Amphiprotic or
Amphoteric
molecules or ions that can behave as
EITHER acids or bases:
water, anions of weak acids
(look at the examples abovesometimes
water was an acid, sometimes it acted as
a base)

Exercise 2 Acid
Dissociation (Ionization)
Reactions
Write the simple dissociation
(ionization) reaction (omitting
water) for each of the following
acids.

a. Hydrochloric acid (HCl)

b. Acetic acid (HC2H3O2)
c. The ammonium ion (NH4+)
d. The anilinium ion (C6H5NH3+)
e. The hydrated aluminum(III) ion
[Al(H2O)6]3+

Solution
A: HCl(aq) -> H+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
B: HC2H3O2(aq)
H+(aq) + C2H3O2-(aq)
C: NH4+(aq) H+(aq) + NH3(aq)

Solution, cont.
D: C6H5NH3+(aq) H+(aq) +
C6H5NH2(aq)
E: Al(H2O)63+(aq)
H+(aq) + Al(H2O)5OH2+(aq)

Relative Strengths of
Acids and Bases
Strength is determined by the
position of the "dissociation"
equilibrium.

Strong acids/Strong bases

dissociate completely in water
have very large K values

Weak acids/Weak bases

dissociate only to a slight extent
in
water
dissociation constant is very
small

Strong

Weak

Do Not
confuse concentration
with strength!

Strong Acids
Hydrohalic acids:
HCl, HBr, HI
Nitric: HNO3
Sulfuric: H2SO4
Perchloric: HClO

The more
oxygen present
in the
polyatomic ion,
the stronger its
acid WITHIN that
group.

Strong Bases
Hydroxides OR oxides of IA and
IIA metals
Solubility plays a role (those
that
are very soluble are strong!)

The stronger
the acid, the
weaker its CB.
The converse
is also true.

Weak Acids and Bases Equilibrium

expressions

The vast majority of acid/bases are

weak.
Remember, this means they do not
ionize much.

The equilibrium expression for

acids
is known as the Ka (the acid
dissociation constant).
It is set up the same way as in
general equilibrium.

Many common weak acids are

oxyacids,
like phosphoric acid and
nitrous acid.

Other common
weak acids are
organic acids,
those that contain a
carboxyl group
COOH group
like acetic acid and
benzoic acid.

For Weak Acid Reactions:

HA + H2O H3O+ + AKa = [H3O+][A-]
[HA]

<1

Write the Ka expression for acetic

acid using Bronsted-Lowry.
(Note: Water is a pure liquid and
is thus, left out of the equilibrium
expression.)

Weak bases (bases without OH-)

react with water to produce a
hydroxide ion.

Common examples of weak bases are

ammonia (NH3), methylamine
(CH3NH2), and ethylamine (C2H5NH2).
The lone pair on N forms a bond with
an H+. Most weak bases involve N.

The equilibrium expression

for
bases is known as the Kb.

For Weak Base

Reactions:
B + H2O HB+ + OHKb = [H3O+][OH-]
[B]

<1

Set up the Kb expression for

ammonia using BronstedLowry.

Notice that Ka and Kb expressions

look very similar.
The difference is that a base
produces the hydroxide ion in
solution, while the acid produces the
hydronium ion in solution.

Another note on this

point:
H+ and H3O+ are both equivalent
terms here. Often water is left
completely out of the equation since
it does not appear in the equilibrium.
This has become an accepted
practice.
(*However, water is very important
in causing the acid to dissociate.)

Exercise 3
Relative Base Strength
Using table 14.2, arrange the
following species according to
their
strength as bases:
H2O, F-, Cl-, NO2-, and CN-

Solution
Cl- < H2O < F- < NO2- < CN-

WATER
THE HYDRONIUM ION
AUTO-IONIZATION
THE pH SCALE

Fredrich Kohlrausch, around

1900, found that no matter how
pure water is, it still conducts a
minute amount of electric
current. This proves that water
self-ionizes.

Since the water molecule is

amphoteric, it may dissociate
with itself to a slight extent.
Only about 2 out of a billion
water molecules are ionized at
any instant!

The equilibrium expression used

here is referred to as the Kw
(ionization constant for
water).

H2O(l) + H2O(l)
(aq)

<=> H3O+(aq) + OH-

In pure water or dilute aqueous

solutions, the concentration of water
can be considered to be a constant
(55.4 M), so we include that with the
equilibrium constant and write the
expression as:
Keq[H2O]2 = Kw = [H3O+][OH-]

Kw = 1.0 x 10-14
(Kw = 1.008 x 10-14 @ 25 Celsius)
Knowing this value allows us to
calculate the OH- and H+
concentration for various
situations.

[OH-] = [H+] : solution is neutral (in

pure water, each of these is 1.0 x
10-7)
[OH-] > [H+] : solution is basic
[OH-] < [H+] : solution is acidic

Kw = K a x K b
another very beneficial
equation

Exercise 5
Autoionization of Water
At 60C, the value of Kw is 1 X 10-13.
a. Using Le Chateliers principle,
predict whether the reaction
2H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + OH-(aq)
is exothermic or endothermic.

Exercise 5, cont.
b. Calculate [H+] and [OH-] in a
neutral solution at 60C.

Solution
A: endothermic
B: [H+] = [OH-] = 3 X 10-7 M

The pH Scale
Used to
designate the
[H+] in most
aqueous
solutions
where H+ is
small.

pH = - log [H+]
pOH = - log [OH-]
pH + pOH = 14
pH = 6.9 and lower
(acidic)
= 7.0
(neutral)
= 7.1 and greater (basic)

Use as many decimal places as

there are sig.figs. in the problem!
The negative base 10 logarithm of
the hydronium ion concentration
becomes the whole number;
therefore, only the decimals to the
right are significant.

Exercise 6
Calculating [H+] and
[OH-]

Calculate [H+] or [OH-] as required

for
each of the following solutions at
25C, and state whether the solution
is neutral, acidic, or basic.
a. 1.0 X 10-5 M OHb. 1.0 X 10-7 M OHc. 10.0 M H+

Solution
A: [H+] = 1.0 X 10-9 M, basic
B: [H+] = 1.0 X 10-7 M, neutral
C: [OH-] = 1.0 X 10-15 M, acidic

Exercise 7
Calculating pH and
pOH

Calculate pH and pOH for each of

the following solutions at 25C.
a. 1.0 X 10-3 M OHb. 1.0 M H+

Solution
A: pH = 11.00
pOH = 3.00
B: pH = 0.00
pOH = 14.00

Example
Order the following from strongest
base to weakest base. Use table
14.2.
H2O

NO3-1

OCl-1

NH3

Exercise 8
Calculating
pH

The pH of a sample of human

blood
was measured to be 7.41 at 25C.
Calculate pOH, [H+], and [OH-] for
the sample.

Solution
pOH = 6.59
[H+] = 3.9 X 10-8
[OH-] = 2.6 X 10-7 M

Exercise 9
pH of Strong Acids
Calculate the pH of:
a. 0.10 M HNO3
b. 1.0 X 10-10 M HCl

Solution
A: pH = 1.00
B: pH = 7.00

Exercise 10
The pH of Strong
Bases

Calculate the pH of a 5.0 X 10-2

M
NaOH solution.

Solution
pH = 12.70

Calculating pH of Weak
Acid Solutions
Calculating pH of weak acids
involves setting up an
equilibrium.

Always start by
1) writing the equation
2) setting up the acid equilibrium
expression (Ka)
3) defining initial concentrations,
changes, and final
concentrations in terms of X

4) substituting values and

variables
into the Ka expression
5) solving for X
(use the RICE diagram learned in

Example:
Calculate the pH of a 1.00 x 104 M
solution of acetic acid.

The Ka of acetic acid is 1.8 x 10 -5

HC2H3O2 H+ + C2H3O2Ka = [H+][C2H3O2-] = 1.8 x 10-5
[HC2H3O2]

Reaction
Initial
Change

HC2H3O2 H+ + C2H3O21.00 x 10-4

-x

Equilibrium 1.00 x 10-4 - x

+x

+x

Often, the -x in a Ka
expression can be treated as
negligible.
1.8 x 10-5 =

(x)(x)
_
1.00x10-4 - x

1.8 x 10-5

(x)(x)
_
1.00 x 10-4

x = 4.2 x 10-5

When you assume that x is

negligible, you must check the
validity of this assumption.

To be valid, x must be less than

5% of the number that it was to be
subtracted from.
% dissociation =
"x"
[original]

x 100

In this example, 4.2 x 10-5 is greater

than 5% of 1.00 x 10-4.
This means that the assumption that
x was negligible was invalid and x
must be solved for using the
quadratic equation or the method of
successive approximation.

Use of the
Quadratic Equation

b 4ac
x b
2a
2

ax2 +
=0

bx
5

c
9

x 1.8 10 x 1.8 10 0
2

Using the values:

a = 1, b = 1.8x10-5, c=
-1.8x10-9
1.8 10 5 (1.8 10 5 ) 2 4(1)(1.8 10 9 )
x
2(1)

x 3.5 10

and x 5.2 10

Since a concentration
can not be negative
x = 3.5 x 10-5 M
x = [H+] = 3.5 x 10-5
pH = -log 3.5 x 10-5 = 4.46

Another method which some people

prefer is the method of successive
approximations. In this method, you
start out assuming that x is
negligible, solve for x, and repeatedly
plug your value of x into the
equation again until you get the
same value of x two successive times.

Exercise 11
The pH of Weak Acids
The hypochlorite ion (OCl-) is a
strong oxidizing agent often found
in household bleaches and
disinfectants. It is also the active
ingredient that forms when
swimming pool water is treated with
chlorine.

In addition to its oxidizing abilities,

the hypochlorite ion has a relatively
high affinity for protons (it is a
much stronger base than Cl-, for
example) and forms the weakly
acidic hypochlorous acid (HOCl,
Ka = 3.5 X 10-8).

Calculate the pH of a 0.100 M

aqueous solution of
hypochlorous
acid.

Solution
pH = 4.23

Determination of the pH
of a Mixture of Weak
Acids
Only the acid with the largest Ka
value will contribute an
appreciable
[H+].
Determine the pH based on
this acid and ignore any others.

Exercise 12
The pH
of Weak Acid Mixtures
Calculate the pH of a solution that
contains:
1.00 M HCN (Ka = 6.2 X 10-10)
and
5.00 M HNO2 (Ka = 4.0 X 10-4).

Exercise 12, cont.

Also, calculate the
concentration of
cyanide ion (CN-) in this
solution at
equilibrium.

Solution
pH = 1.35
[CN-] = 1.4 X 10-8 M

Exercise 13 Calculating
Percent Dissociation
Calculate the percent dissociation
of
acetic acid (Ka = 1.8 X 10-5) in
each of the following solutions.
a. 1.00 M HC2H3O2
b. 0.100 M HC2H3O2

Solution
A: = 0.42 %
B: = 1.3 %

Exercise 14 Calculating
Ka from Percent
Dissociation

Lactic acid (HC3H5O3) is a waste

product that accumulates in
muscle
tissue during exertion, leading
to
pain and a feeling of fatigue.

Exercise 14, cont.

In a 0.100 M aqueous solution,
lactic acid is 3.7% dissociated.
Calculate the value of Ka for
this
acid.

Solution
Ka= 1.4 X 10-4

Determination of the pH of a
weak
base is very similar to the
determination of the pH of a weak
acid.
Follow the same steps.

Remember, however, that x is

the
[OH-] and taking the negative
log
of x will give you the pOH and
not
the pH!

Exercise 15
The pH of Weak Bases I
Calculate the pH for a 15.0 M
solution of NH3 (Kb = 1.8 X 10-5).

Solution
pH = 12.20

Exercise 16
The pH of Weak Bases
II
Calculate the pH of a 1.0 M
solution
of methylamine (Kb = 4.38 X
10-4).

Solution
pH = 12.32

Calculating pH of
polyprotic acids
Acids with more than one
ionizable
hydrogen will ionize in steps.
Each dissociation has its own K a
value.

The first dissociation will be

the
greatest and subsequent
dissociations will have much
smaller equilibrium
constants.

As each H is removed, the

remaining acid gets weaker
and
therefore has a smaller Ka.

As the negative charge on the

acid
increases, it becomes more
difficult
to remove the positively charged
proton.

Example:
Consider the dissociation of
phosphoric acid.
H3PO4(aq) + H2O(l) <=>
H3O+(aq) + H2PO4- (aq)
Ka1 = 7.5 x 10-3

H2PO4-(aq) + H2O(l) <=>

H3O+(aq) + HPO42(aq)

Ka2 = 6.2 x 10-8

HPO42-(aq) + H2O(l) <=>

H3O+(aq) + PO43-(aq)
Ka3 = 4.8 x 10-13

Looking at the Ka values, it is

obvious that only the first
dissociation will be important in
determining the pH of the solution.

Except for H2SO4, polyprotic acids

have Ka2 and Ka3 values so much
weaker than their Ka1 value that
the 2nd and 3rd (if applicable)
dissociation can be ignored.

The [H+] obtained from this 2nd

and 3rd dissociation is
negligible
compared to the [H+] from the
1st
dissociation.

Because H2SO4 is a strong acid in its

first dissociation and a weak acid in
its second, we need to consider both
if the concentration is more dilute
than 1.0 M.
The quadratic equation is needed to
work this type of problem.

Exercise 17
The pH of a Polyprotic
Acid

Calculate the pH of a 5.0 M H3PO4

solution and the equilibrium
concentrations of the species:
H3PO4, H2PO4-, HPO42-, and PO43-

Solution
pH = 0.72
[H3PO4] = 4.8 M
[H2PO4-] = 0.19 M
[HPO42-] = 6.2 X 10-8 M
[PO43-] = 1.6 X 10-19 M

Exercise 18
The pH of a Sulfuric
Acid
Calculate the pH of a 1.0 M
H2SO4
solution.

Solution
pH = 0.00

Exercise 19
The pH of a Sulfuric
Acid

Calculate the pH of a 1.0 X 10-2

M
H2SO4 solution.

Solution
pH = 1.84

ACID-BASE
PROPERTIES OF
SALTS:
HYDROLYSIS

Salts are produced from the reaction

of an acid and a base. (neutralization)
Salts are not always neutral. Some
hydrolyze with water to produce
acidic and basic solutions.

Neutral Salts
Salts that are formed from the
cation of a strong base and the
anion of a strong acid form
neutral solutions when dissolved
in water.
A salt such as NaNO3 gives a
neutral solution.

Basic Salts
Salts that are formed from the
cation of a strong base and the
anion of a weak acid form basic
solutions when dissolved in
water.

The anion hydrolyzes the

water
molecule to produce
hydroxide
ions and thus a basic
solution.

K2S should be basic since S-2

is
the CB of the very weak acid
HS-,
while K+ does not hydrolyze
appreciably.

S2- + H2O OH+

HSstrong base
weak
acid

Acid Salts
Salts that are formed from the
cation of a weak base and the
anion of a strong acid form
acidic solutions when dissolved
in
water.

The cation hydrolyzes the

water
molecule to produce
hydronium
ions and thus an acidic
solution.

NH4Cl should be weakly acidic,

since NH4+ hydrolyzes to give an
acidic solution, while Cl- does not
hydrolyze.
NH4+ + H2O H3O+
+
NH3
strong acid
weak
base

If both the cation

and the anion
contribute to the
pH situation,
compare Ka to Kb.
If Kb is larger, basic!
The converse is also true.

The following will help predict

acidic, basic, or neutral.
However, you must explain using
appropriate equations as proof!!!

1. Strong acid + Strong base

=
Neutral salt

2. Strong acid + Weak base

=
Acidic salt

3. Weak acid

+ Strong base

=
Basic salt

4. Weak acid + Weak base

=
???
(must look at K values to decide)

Exercise 20 The AcidBase Properties of Salts

Predict whether an aqueous solution
of each of the following salts will be
acidic, basic, or neutral. Prove with
appropriate equations.
a. NH4C2H3O2
b. NH4CN
c. Al2(SO4)3

Solution
A: neutral
B: basic
C: acidic

Exercise 21
Salts as Weak Bases
Calculate the pH of a 0.30 M
NaF
solution.
The Ka value for HF is 7.2 X 10-4.

Solution
pH = 8.31

Exercise 22
Salts as Weak Acids I
Calculate the pH of a 0.10 M
NH4Cl
solution.
The Kb value for NH3 is 1.8 X 105.

Solution
pH = 5.13

Exercise 23
Salts as Weak Acids II
Calculate the pH of a 0.010 M
AlCl3
solution.
The Ka value for Al(H2O)63+ is
1.4 X 10-5.

Solution
pH = 3.43

The Lewis Concept of

Acids and Bases
acid--can accept a pair of
electrons to form a coordinate
covalent bond
base--can donate a pair of
electrons to form a coordinate
covalent bond

Yes, this is the dot guy and

the
structures guy.

BF3 the most famous of

all!!

Exercise 24
Tell whether each of the following is
a Lewis acid or base.
Draw structures as proof.
a) PH3
b) BCl3

c) H2S
d) SF4

Exercise 25
Lewis Acids and Basis
For each reaction, identify the
Lewis
acid and base.
a. Ni2+(aq) + 6NH3(aq)
Ni(NH3)62+(aq)
b. H+(aq) + H2O(aq) H3O+(aq)

Solution
A: Lewis acid = nickel(II) ion
Lewis base = ammonia
B: Lewis acid = proton
Lewis base = water
molecule