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03 - Chemical Properties of Water
03 - Chemical Properties of Water
Chemical Properties of Water
Slide Set 3
Dr. Michael Mienaltowski
Water
• Water dissociates, or ionizes. We express this as:
H2O H+ + OH‐
• Realize that the free proton (H+) is not actually in
solution. Actually see…
H3O+
H5O2+
H7O3+
Proton Jumping
Ionization (dissociation) of water can be
described as an equilibrium expression.
H2O H+ + OH‐
[H+] [OH‐]
K = [H2O]
Where K = dissociation constant
Because the concentration of undissociated water
is so much greater, one might incorporate [H2O]
into K such that
Kw = K [H2O] = [H+] [OH‐] [H2O] = (1000 g/L) (1 mol / 18.05 g)
= 1000 mol / 18.05 L
Kw = 10‐14 at 25C = 55.5 M
Pure water
Kw = K [H2O] = [H+] [OH‐] [H+] = [OH‐]
Kw = [H+]2
Kw = 10‐14 = [10‐7 M H+] [10‐7 M OH‐] NEUTRAL
ACIDIC
If ________, then [H +] > 10‐7 M so [OH‐] < 10‐7 M
BASIC
If ________, then [OH ‐] > 10‐7 M so [H+] < 10‐7 M
We consider [H+] with pH
pH = ‐ log [H+] = 1 / log [H+]
HI pH = LO [H+]
LO pH = HI [H+]
In pure water
pH = 7 = ‐log [H+]
‐7 = log [H+]
10‐7 M = [H+]
Relationship of pH, [H+], and [OH-]
pH Values of Common Substances
Acids and bases alter the pH
Example:
CH3COOH + NH3 CHCOO‐ + H3O+
acetic acid ammonia acetate ammonium
Abbreviating the acid‐base reaction
HA H+ + A‐
The strength of an acid is specified by its dissociation
constant.
HA + H2O A‐ + H3O+
acid base conjugate conjugate
base acid
[H3O+] [A‐] products
K = [HA] [H2O] reactants
[H3O+] [A‐]
Ka = K [H2O] = [HA]
pH = ‐log [H+] Like with pH, pKa = ‐log Ka
Dissociation Constants and pK Values
of Some Acids
HCl + H2O Cl‐ + H3O+
The strength of an acid is specified by its dissociation
constant.
products [H3O+] [Cl‐]
K = = >> 1
reactants [HCl] [H2O]
A large Ka means:
‐ The products of dissociation reaction are favored
‐ The acid is largely dissociated = STRONG ACID
You can use this equation to write a generic acid
dissociation constant equation:
HA + H2O A‐ + H3O+
[H3O+] [Cl‐]
K = [HCl] [H2O]
Because water is constant, we can ignore it… make it a
constant… thus…
[H3O+] [A‐]
Ka = K [H2O] = [HA]
A small Ka means:
‐ The undissociated acid is favored
‐ Very little of the acid is dissociated = WEAK ACID
‐ Ka < 1
Consider CH3COOH (acetic acid)
[CH3COO‐] [H3O+]
Ka = [CH3COOH]
Weak acids Ka < 1 H3PO4, acetic acid, NH4+
Strong acids Ka >> 1 HCl, HClO4, HNO3
The pH of a solution is determined by the relative
concentrations of acids and bases. Here is the
derivation:
[H+] [A‐] [HA]
Ka = [HA]
pH = ‐log ( ) ‐log K
[A‐] a
[HA]
[HA] pH = ‐log ( ) +pK
[A‐] a
[A‐] Ka = [H+]
[HA]
[HA] pH = pKa ‐log ( )
[A‐]
[H+] = K
[A‐] a
[A‐]
pH = pKa + log ( )
[HA]
[HA]
‐log [H+] = ‐log ( K
[A‐] a ) Henderson‐Hasselbalch
Examples on Doc Cam
#1: Calculate the pH of a 2L solution containing 10mL
of 5M acetic acid and 10mL of 1M sodium acetate.
#2: What is the appropriate pKa of a weak acid HA if a
solution of 0.1M HA and 0.3M A‐ has a pH of 6.5?
What happens when you add 0.01 mL HCl to water?
pH changes from 7 to 5 ≈ 100x increase in [H+]
Not good / not conducive with life
Buffers:
Titration
Curves of
Weak Acids
What is ideal buffering capacity?
• Want to resist pH changes on
addition of acid or base.
• At its best or maximal buffering
when pH = pKa
• A weak acid is a useful buffer
within the range of one pH unit
of its pKa.
In 1966, Dr. Norman Good wondered, “What makes a
good buffer for studying biology?” He made this his
life’s work.
Ten Features of Good’s Buffers
1. A pKa between 6 and 8
2. Soluble in water
3. Membrane impermeable (don’t want buffer
entering cell)
4. Minimal salt effect (only interact with H+)
5. Minimal effects from ∆T and ∆ [ ]
In 1966, Dr. Norman Good wondered, “What makes a
good buffer for studying biology?” He made this his
life’s work.
Ten Features of Good’s Buffers
6. Know any interactions the buffer has with cations
7. Chemical stability
8. Biochemically inert
9. Optical absorbance of buffer should never be
above 230 nm wavelength.
10.Ease of preparation
Buffers: Titration of a Polyprotic Acid
Phosphoric acid
H3PO4
Dihydrogen phosphate
H2PO4‐ pKa = 12.4
Hydrogen phosphate
HPO42‐
Phosphate
PO43‐
pKa = 7.2
pKa = 2.15
Blood buffering on the Doc Cam
Chapter 2
Chemical Properties of Water
Key Concepts 2.2
• Water dissociates to form H+ and OH– ions, with a
dissociation constant of 10–14.
• The acidity of a solution is expressed as a pH value,
where pH = –log[H+].
• An acid is a compound that can donate a proton, and a
base is a compound that can accept a proton.
• A dissociation constant varies with the strength of an acid.
Chapter 2
Chemical Properties of Water
Key Concepts 2.2
• The Henderson–Hasselbalch equation relates the pH of a
solution of a weak acid to the pK and the concentrations of
the acid and its conjugate base.
• A titration curve demonstrates that if the concentrations of
an acid and its conjugate base are close, the solution is
buffered against changes in pH when acid or base is added.
• Many biological molecules contain ionizable groups so that
they are sensitive to changes in pH.
Chapter 2
Chemical Properties of Water
Checkpoint 2.2
• What are the products of water’s ionization? How are their
concentrations related?
• Predict the pH of a sample of water if Kw were 1010 or 1020.
• Describe how to calculate pH from the concentration of H
or OH.
• Define acid and base.
• What is the relationship between the strength of an acid
and its pK value?
Chapter 2
Chemical Properties of Water
Checkpoint 2.2
• Explain why it is more complicated to calculate the pH of a
solution of weak acid or base than to calculate the pH of a
solution of strong acid or base.
• Be able to sketch a titration curve, and label its parts, for a
monoprotic and a polyprotic acid.
• What must a buffer solution include in order to resist
changes in pH on addition of acid or base?
• Why is it important to maintain biological molecules in a
buffered solution?