STRONG ACID / STRONG BASE WEAK ACID / WEAK BASE

When acids and alkalis are added to water, they dissociate/ionize and a dynamic equilibrium is set up.

Completely dissociate (split up) into ions in aqueous solution Partially dissociate into ions in aqueous solution

e.g. HCl > H+(aq) + Cl(aq) Strong Acid e.g. ethanoic acid:
HNO3 > H+(aq) + NO3(aq) CH3COOH(aq) CH3COO(aq) + H+(aq)
The weaker the acid,
NaOH(s) > Na+(aq) + OH(aq) Strong Base o The less it dissociates
o The more the equilibrium lies to the left.

Kw = [H+(aq)] [OH(aq)] mol2 dm-6 The relative strengths of acids can be expressed as Ka or pKa
values
Kw = 1 x 10-14 mol2 dm-6 (at 25C)
Ka = [H+(aq)] [A(aq)] mol dm-3
pH = - log10 [H+(aq)] [HA(aq)]

[H+(aq)] = antilog (-pH) Assumptions to calculate the value of Ka:

o [H+] = [CH3COO-]
o [CH3COOH]initial = [CH3COOH]equilibrium

The ions are formed in equal amounts, so

[H+(aq)] = [A(aq)]

Therefore,
Ka = [H+(aq)]2
[HA(aq)]