CHAPTER 5

ACID AND
BASES
DMK10023
CHEMISTRY
BASIC PHYSICAL
5.1 THE THEORIES RELATED TO ACIDS
AND BASES

 ARRHENIUS THEORY AND

BRONSTED LOWRY THEORY
OF ACIDS AND BASES
 CONJUGATE ACIDS AND
CONJUGATE BASES OF ACIDS
AND BASES
Acid and Bases
Acid and Bases
Acid and Bases
Introduction

 Acids and bases are a way of classifying compounds based

upon what happens to them when you place them in water.

 An acid is a substance that yields an excess of hydrogen ions

(H+)
when dissolved in water.

 A base is a substance that yields an excess of hydroxide ions

(OH-)
when dissolved in water.
 HISTOR
Acid ANDYBase definitions

Definition #1: Arrhenius (traditional)

 Acids – produce hydrogen (H+) ions or
hydronium
(H3O+) ion
 Bases – produce hydroxide (OH-) ions
(Problem: some bases don’t have hydroxide ions)
Definitions of
Acids and Bases

 An acid is a substance that breaks into hydrogen [H+] ions in

an aqueous solution.

 A base is a substance that breaks into hydroxide [0H-] ions in

an aqueous solution.

 Note: aqueous / water solution (H2O) is the solvent.

Arrhenius acid is a substance that produces H+ (H3O+) in water

Arrhenius base is a substance that produces OH- in water

Arrhenius Theory is
weak because:

1. Sodium ethanoate C2H5ONa is base (no

contain OH- But only ethoxide (C2H5O- )
ion)
2. Some base (receive proton H+ not
producing OH-)
Example:
NH3(aq) H Cl(aq) - - - - - → NH4 Cl (s)
+
-
The Arrhenius Theory
weakness is
overcome by :

Bronstead Lowry
Theory
 Acid/Base Definitions

 Definition #2: Brønsted –

Lowry
Acids – proton donor
Bases – proton
acceptor

A “proton” is really just a

hydrogen atom that has lost its
electron (H+ ions)
 A Brønsted-Lowry acid is a proton donor
A Brønsted-Lowry base is a proton acceptor

conjugate conjugate
base acid
acid base
Example of Bronsted-
Lowry acid

HCl + H2O H3O+ +

Cl-

CH 3 COOH + CH3 COO -

HHO
3 2O
-
+
Example of
Bronsted- Lowry
bases
HSO4- H2SO4 +
+H3O- H2O

 CH3NH2 + CH3NH3+ +
H3O+ H2O
ACID-BASE THEORIES

The Brønsted definition means NH3 is a BASE in water and water

is itself an ACID
+
NH 3 + H2 O NH - +
OH
Base Acid 4 Base
Acid
Water

 Can act as acid and base

(amphoteric substance)
(because water can donor or accept
H+)
Conjugate acids and
conjugate bases of acids and
bases
HONORS ONLY!

Learning
Check!
Label the acid, base, conjugate
acid, and conjugate base in
each reaction:

HCl + OH- → Cl-

+ H2O H2O + H2SO4 →

HSO4 + H3O
Acid as Proton (H+)
Donor
 A chemical substance that produce hydrogen ions, H+
 Known as hydroxonium ion H3O+ when it dissolves in water
 Proton (H+) donor

Example 1 : Hydrochloric acid

HCL(G) + H2O - - - - - → H+(aq) + CL-(aq)

Example 2: ethanoic acid

CH3COOH(L) + H2O - - - - - → CH3COO-(aq) + H+(aq)

Physical Properties of
Acid & pH Range
Example : lime or orange
 Sour (present of citric acid)

pH : less than 7
 Change litmus paper (blue to
red)
5.2 Explain the concept
of acid and base
 Strong acid and base, weak acid and base.
 The concept of ph and poh
 The ph and poh values of strong acids and
bases
 The strength of weak acid and weak base to
the respective dissociation constant ka
and kb
 ph and poh values of weak acids and weak
bases
Strong acid & weak
acid
 Generally divide acids and bases
into STRONG or WEAK ones.
 “The higher the concentration of
H+ Ions, the stronger the acidity of
the acid”
 Degree of dissociation acid (a)
- percentage of acid
molecule dissociates in water
HONORS ONLY!
Strong and Weak Acids/Bases
The strength of an acid (or base) is
determined by the amount of
IONIZATION (Degree of dissociation).

HNO3, HCl, H2SO4 and HClO4 are among the

only known strong acids.
HONORS ONLY!
Strong Acids

STRONG ACID:
HNO3 (aq) + H2O (l) ---> H3O+ + NO3 -
(aq)
(aq)
Acid that dissociates completely in water, that
is the degree of dissociation is almost 100%.
As
the result, the ntration of H+ ions is
c once h

igh
HONORS ONLY!
Weak Acids
 Weak acids are much less than 100% ionized in water
(dissociates partially in water). Thus concentration of
H+ is low.
One of the best known is acetic acid =
CH3CO2H
Base
concept
 Base is proton acceptor
 Base is the chemical compound that
receive / accepts a hydrogen ions H+

 Example : Aqueous ammonia

Physical properties
of alkali & pH range
 Bitter
 Slippery
 Aqueous alkaline solution conduct electricity
 pH more than 7
 Change litmus paper (red to blue)
Alkali

 Measured by the concentration of OH-

ions found in the aqueous solution
 The higher OH- , the stronger alkali
 Strong alkali (Higher degree of dissociation
)
Strong
alkali
 Dissociates completely in water
 Degree of dissociation is 100%
 Produce high concentration OH- ions

 Eg:
KOH(S) + H 2O - - - - - → K +
(aq) + O
H -

(aq)
Weak
alkali
 Dissociates partially only when it
dissolve in water to produce a low
concentrate OH- ions.

 Eg:

NH3 + H2O NH4+ +

OH-
The ph scale is a way of
expressing the strength of
acids and bases. Instead
of using very small numbers,
we just use the NEGATIVE
power of 10 on the molarity
of the H+ (or OH-) ion.

Under 7 = acid
7=
neutral Over 7
= base
pH of Common Substances
 Calculating the pH

pH = - log
(Remember +that the [ ] mean
molarity)[H ]

Example: If [H+] = 1 X 10-10

pH = - log 1 X 10-10
pH = - (-
10) pH =
10

Example: If [H+] = 1.8

X 10-5
pH = - log
Try These!

Find the pH of each solution:

1)A 0.15 M solution of hydrochloric
acid

2) A 3.00 X 10-7 M solution of nitric

acid

3) Sulphuric acid 0.1 M

pH calculations:
Solving for H+
If the pH of coke is 3.12, [H+] = ?
Because pH = - log [H+] ,
Then - pH = log [H+]
Take antilog (10x) of both
sides and get

10-pH = [H+]
[H+] = 10-3.12 = 7.6 x 10-4 M
*** to find antilog on your calculator, look for “Shift” or “2nd function”
and then the log button
pH calculations
– Solving for H+
 A solution has a pH of 8.5. What is the
molarity of hydrogen ions in the solution?

pH = - log [H+]
8.5 = - log [H+]
-8.5 = log [H+]
Antilog -8.5 = antilog (log [H+])
10-8.5 = [H+]
3.16 X 10-9 = [H+]
HONORS ONLY!

MORE ABOUT WATER

H2O can function as both an ACID and a BASE.
In pure water there can be autoionization

Equilibrium constant for water = Kw

Kw = [H3O+] [OH-] = 1.00 x 10-14 at 25 oC
HONORS ONLY!
MORE ABOUT WATER
Autoionization OH-

Kw = [H3O+] [OH-] = 1.00 x 10-14 at 25 oC

In a neutral solution [H3O +] =
[OH-] so Kw =
[H3O+]2 = [OH-]2
+ - -7
pOH
 Since acids and bases are opposites,
pH and pOH are opposites.
 pOH does not really exist, but it is
useful for changing bases to pH.
 pOH looks at the perspective of a
base
pOH = - log [OH-]
Since pH and pOH are on opposite
ends,
pH + pOH = 14
pH + pOH = pKw
pH + pOH = p[1.0x10-14]
pH + pOH = -log[1.0x10-
]
14

pH + pOH = 14
pH [H+] [OH-] pOH
 [H3O+], [OH-] and pH

What is the pH of the 0.0010 M

NAOH solution?

[OH-] = 0.0010 (or 1.0 X 10-3

M) pOH = - log 0.0010
pOH = 3
pH = 14 – 3 =
11
Try These!

Calculate pH in the
following aqueous solutions:
1. NaOH 0.03 M
2. Ba(OH)2 0.02M
The pH of rainwater collected in a certain region of
the northeastern United States on a particular day
was 4.82. What is the H+ ion concentration of the
rainwater?

The OH- ion concentration of a blood sample is

2.5 x 10-7 M. What is the pH of the blood?
 [OH-]

[H+] pOH

pH
 Calculating [H3O+], pH, [OH-], and pOH

Problem 1: A chemist dilutes concentrated

hydrochloric acid to make two solutions: (a) 3.0 M and
(b) 0.0024 M. Calculate the [H3O+], pH, [OH-], and pOH
of the two solutions at 25°C.

Problem 2: What is the [H3O+], [OH-], and pOH of a

solution with pH = 3.67? Is this an acid, base, or neutral?

Problem 3: Problem #2 with pH = 8.05?

Acid dissociation constant
(Ka) and base dissociation
constant (Kb) for weak
acid & weak base
HONORS ONLY!
Equilibria Involving
Weak Acids and Bases
Consider acetic acid, HC2H3O2 (HOAc)

HC2H3O2 + H2O → H3O+ + C2H3O2 -

Acid Conj. base

[H O + ][OAc - ]
Ka  3  1.8 x 10 -5
[HOAc]
(K is designated Ka for ACID)
K gives the ratio of ions (split up) to molecules
(don’t split up)
HONORS ONLY!

Equilibrium Constants
for Weak Acids

Weak acid has Ka < 1

Leads to small [H3O+] and a pH of 2 - 7
Equilibrium Constants
for Weak Bases

Weak base has Kb < 1

Leads to small [OH-] and a pH of 12 - 7
HONORS ONLY!

Relation
of Ka, Kb,
[H3O+]
and pH
HONORS ONLY!
Equilibria Involving A Weak Acid

Calc the pH of a 1.00 M

HOAc. Ka = 1.8 x 10-5

Step 1. Define equilibrium concs. In

ICE table.
[HOA c [H3O+] [OAc-]
initial ]
0 0
change 1.00
+x +x
equilib -x
x x
1.00-x
HONORS ONLY!

Equilibria Involving A Weak Acid

You have 1.00 M HOAc. Calc. the equilibrium concs.
of HOAc, H3O+, OAc-, and the pH.

Step 2. Write Ka expression

[H O +][OAc - ] x2
Ka  1.8 x 10-5 = 3
[HOAc] 
1.00 - x

This is a quadratic. Solve using quadratic

formula.

or you can make an approximation if x is very small!

(Rule of thumb: 10-5 or smaller is ok)
HONORS ONLY!

Equilibria Involving A Weak Acid

You have 1.00 M hoac. Calc. The equilibrium concs. Of
hoac, H3O+, oac-, and the ph.

Step 3. Solve ka expression

[H O +][OAc - ] x2
K a  1.8 x 10-5 = 3
[HOAc] 
1.00 - x
First assume x is very small because ka is so small.

K a  1.8 x 10-5
=
Now we can more easily solve this
approximate
Approximating

If K is really small, the equilibrium

concentrations will be nearly the same
as the initial concentrations.
Example: 0.20 – x is just about 0.20 if x
is really small.

If the k is 10-5 or smaller (10-6, 10-7, etc.), You

should approximate. Otherwise, you
have to use the quadratic.
HONORS ONLY!

Equilibria Involving A Weak

Acid
You have 1.00 M HOAc. Calc. the equilibrium concs. of
HOAc, H3O+, OAc-, and the pH.

Step 3. Solve Ka approximate expression

Ka  1.8 x 10-5 x2
1.0
= 0
x = [H3O+] = [OAc-] = 4.2 x 10-3 M
pH = - log [H3O+] = -log (4.2 x 10-3) = 2.37
HONORS ONLY!

Equilibria Involving A Weak Acid

Try These!

Calculate the pH of a 0.0010 M solution

of formic acid, HCO2H.

HCO2H + H2O → - HCO2

+ H3O+
Ka = 1.8 x 10-
4
HONORS ONLY!
Equilibria Involving A Weak Base

You have 0.010 M NH3. Calc. the

pH. NH3 + H2O →
NH4 + OH
+
-
[NH4 ]
Kb = 1.8 x 10[NH
-5
[OH +]
3
Step 1.
initial Define
] equilibrium
- concs. in

ICE table
change 0.010 0 0
equilib -x +x +x
0.010 - x x x
HONORS ONLY!
Equilibria Involving A Weak Base

You have 0.010 M NH3. Calc. the

pH. NH3 + H2O →
NH4 + OH
+
-
[NH
-5 3] [NH4 ]
Kb = 1.8 x 10
[OH ] +
Step 1.
initial Define equilibrium
- concs. in
ICE table 0.010
change
0
equilib -x
0
0.010 - x
HONORS ONLY!
Equilibria Involving A Weak Base
You have 0.010 M NH3. Calc. the
pH. NH3 + H2O →
NH4 + OH
+
-
Kb = 1.8 x 10-5
Step 2. Solve the equilibrium
- [NH4 +]
expression
Kb  1.8 x 105
[OH -]
=
Assume x xis=small,
[OH-] so
= [NH4 ] = 4.2 x 10
M +
-4

and [NH3] = 0.010 - 4.2 x 10-4 ≈ 0.010 M

HONORS ONLY!
Equilibria Involving A Weak Base
You have 0.010 M NH3. Calc. the
pH. NH3 + H2O →
NH4 + OH
+
-
Kb = 1.8 x 10-5
Step 3. Calculate pH
[OH-] = 4.2 x 10-4
M
so pOH = - log
[OH-]
 E q u il ib ria Involving A Weak
HONOR S O N L Y!

Base

Try These!

Calculate [OH-] in 0.20 M aqueous

NH3 (Kb = 1.80x10-5)
It can be seen that the calculation for weak acid and base is
long and complicated. There is a simple way to calculate that is
by using the following formula.

For weak acids:

[ H+] = Ka  c

For weak bases:

[ OH-] = Kb  c

Note: c is the concentration of the acid

or base
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEFORE YOU
PROCEED FURTHER

QUESTION 1
 Calculate the concentration of hydrogen ions
and pH for each of the solutions below:
a. 0.5M HCl
b. 0.3M HNO3

QUESTION 2
 Calculate the concentration of hydroxide
ions and pH for each of the solutions below.
c. 0.1M NH3
d. 0.4M Ba(OH)2
QUESTION 3
 Calculate pH :
a. 0.05M CH3COOH, Ka = 1.8 X
10 M HNO2,
b. -50.5M = 4.5 X 10-
4M

Ka

QUESTION 4 NH3, Kb = 1.8 x 10-5M

a. 0.15 M
 Calculate pHNH
b. 0.5 M CH for :K = 3.7 x 10-4 M
3 2, b
BUFFER SOLUTIONS

 A solution the pH of which does not change

significantly on the addition of a little acid or
base (resisting changes of pH)

 A buffer solution is a mixture of

1. A weak acid or a weak base and
2. Its salt.

 Eg. Ethanoic acid (CH3COOH) and its salt

sodium ethanoate (CH3COONa) to water.
Calculate the pH of a buffered solution using
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
]’[/;


EXAMPLE
:
1. Calculate the pH of a buffer solution consisting of
0.10 mol dm-3 CH3COOH and 0.25mol dm-3
CH3COONa
[Ka for CH3COOH = 1.8 x 10-5 mol dm-3 ]

2. 4.28g of ammonium chloride was added to

250cm3 of
0.50 mol dm-3 ammonia solution. Calculate pH of the
resulting solution (Kb for NH3 = 1.8 x 10-5mol dm-3)
pH testing
There are several ways to test pH
 Blue litmus paper (red = acid)
 Red litmus paper (blue = basic)
 pH paper (multi-colored)
 pH meter (7 is neutral, <7 acid,
>7 base)
Universal indicator (multi-colored)
 Indicators like phenolphthalein
Natural indicators like red
cabbage, radishes
 Paper testing
 Paper tests like litmus paper and pH paper
 Put a stirring rod into the solution
and stir.
 Take the stirring rod out, and
place a drop of the solution from
the end of the stirring rod onto a
piece of the paper
 Read and record the color change.
Note what the color indicates.
 You should only use a small
portion of the paper. You
can use one piece of paper for
several tests.
pH paper
 pH meter

 Tests the voltage

of the electrolyte
 Converts the voltage
to pH
 Very cheap,
accurate
 Must be calibrated
with a buffer
solution
 pH indicators
 Indicators are dyes that can be
added that will change color in the
presence of an acid or base.
 Some indicators only work in a
specific range of pH
 Once the drops are added, the
sample
is ruined
 Some dyes are natural, like radish
skin or red cabbage
Setup for titrating an acid with a base