HSC CHEMISTRY LESSON PLAN 14

3.1.1 Define acids as proton donors and describe the ionisation of acids in water

Acids can be defined as proton donors as they are able to provide/donate H+ ions in reactions

When acids ionise in water, they donate a proton to H2O to form H3O+. A strong acid ionises
completely and no equilibrium established. It is represented by a ONE WAY ARROW . E.g.
HCl, H2SO4 and HNO3. If it is a weak acid it is able to only partially ionise and an equilibrium will be
established . E.g. CH3COOH, C6H8O7, H2CO3

Examples

1. H2CO3 + H2O H3O+ + HCO3-

Even though there is 2 hydrogen, these are released 1 at a time in 2 separate ionisations.

H2O + HCO3- H3O+ + CO32-

2. H2SO4 + H2O H3O+ + HSO4-

Even though H2SO4 is a strong acid, its second ionisation is weak.

H2O + HSO4- H3O+ + SO42-

Use this space to make your own notes:

3.1.2 Identify acids including acetic (ethanoic), citric (2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic),

hydrochloric and sulfuric acid

Acetic Acid:

– Systematic name: Ethanoic acid

– Molecular formula: CH3COOH
– It is the acid present in vinegar.
– It is classified as a weak monoprotic acid.
Citric Acid:
– 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid
– Molecular formula: C6H8O7 or H3C6H5O7
 – It occurs in citrus fruit and is widely used as a preservative.
– Classified as a weak acid and is triprotic.
Hydrochloric Acid:
– Molecular formula: HCl
– It is a strong acid and is monoprotic.
– It is produced in the stomach to aid in digestion and is used to clean bricks.
Sulfuric Acid:
– Molecular formula: H2SO4
– It is also a strong acid.
– Most industrially produced chemical and is used to make batteries, fertilizers etc.
– It is diprotic and its second ionisation is weak.
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3.1.3 Describe the use of the pH scale in comparing acids and bases

The pH (potential Hydrogen) scale can be used to compare acids and bases. It is actually a
logarithmic scale that indicates the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. A high pH indicates
a low concentration of hydrogen ions. A low pH indicates a high concentration of hydrogen ions.

3.1.4 Describe acids and their solutions with the appropriate use of the terms strong, weak,
concentrated and dilute

A strong acid is one which ionises completely, donating protons freely. In this ionisation there is no
equilibrium established. E.g. HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, HBr, HF.

HCl (aq) + H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + Cl‫(־‬aq)

A weak acid is one in which ionises partially and does not donate its protons freely. An equilibrium is
established.

H2O + HCO3- H3O+ + CO32-

A concentrated acid contains a large number of moles of the acid per litre of solution.

A dilute acid contains a small number of moles of the acid per litre of solution.

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3.1.5 Identify pH as -log10 [H+] and explain that a change in pH of 1 means a ten-fold change in [H+]

The pH of a solution is defined as the negative of the logarithm (to base 10) of the hydrogen ion
concentration:

[H+] = 10-pH pH = -log10[H+]

Note: The square brackets [ ..] around a species means ‘concentrations of’.[ H+] = concentration of
hydrogen ions in mol/L

Being a logarithmic scale, if the pH changes by 1, the hydrogen ion concentration changes by 10. If
the pH changes by 2, then the hydrogen ion concentration changes by 100. In general, a change of 1
unit of pH is equivalent to a 10 fold change in the hydrogen ion concentration.

The concept [H+][OH-] = 10-14 is useful in some questions.

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3.1.6 Compare the relative strengths of equal concentrations of citric, acetic and hydrochloric acids
and explain in terms of the degree of ionisation of their molecules

The fraction of molecules that has ionised is called the degree of ionisation. At equal concentrations,
the degree of ionisation of Hydrochloric acid > Citric acid > Acetic acid.

HCl has the lowest pH of these 3 because it is a monoprotic, strong acid which ionises according to:

HCl (g) + H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + Cl‫( ־‬aq)

There is no equilibrium established, HCl ionises completely donating H+ freely. This gives it the
highest [H+] and lowest pH of these 3.
Both citric acid and acetic acid are weak acids which do not ionise completely, rather establish
equilibrium. Acetic acid ionises according to:

CH3COOH (s) + H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + CH3COO‫( ־‬aq)

Citric acid ionises according to:

H3C6H5O7 (aq) + 3H2O (l) 3H3O+(aq) + C6H5O73-(aq)

However citric acid has a higher degree of ionisation and is a triprotic acid able to donate 3H+ giving
it a higher [H+] than acetic acid and therefore a lower pH. Acetic acid is a monoprotic weak acid
which does not release H+ freely and has the lowest [H+] of these 3 and so the highest pH.

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3.1.7 Describe the difference between a strong and a weak acid in terms of an equilibrium between
the intact molecule and its ions

A strong acid is one which ionises completely, donating protons freely. There is very little equilibrium
established between the intact molecules and its ions. The ionisation reaction goes to completion

Hydrochloric: HCl (g) + H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + Cl‫( ־‬aq)

Nitric: HNO3 (l) + H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + NO3- (aq)

Sulfuric: H2SO4 (l) + H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + HSO42‫־‬

HBr (aq) + H2O H3O+ (aq) + Br- (aq)

HI (aq) + H2O H3O+ (aq) + I- (aq)

A weak acid is one which does not ionise completely and is unable donating protons freely. There is
an equilibrium established between the intact molecules and its ions. The ionisation reaction does
not go to completion.

CH3COOH (s) + H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + CH3COO‫( ־‬aq)

H2CO3 (aq) + H2O (l) H3O+(aq) + HCO3- (aq)

H2SO3 (aq) + H2O (l) H3O+(aq) + HSO3- (aq)

H2S (aq) + H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + HS- (aq)

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Questions

1. A 0.008 mol L−1 solution of hydrochloric acid and a 0.066 mol L−1 solution of ethanoic acid both
have a pH of 3.2. Why do both solutions have the same pH? 3 marks

2. Calculate the pH of 10.0mL of 0.01 mol L-1 hydrochloric acid solution after it has been diluted by
the addition of 90.0mL of distilled water? 1 mark

3. Compare the pH of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and citric acid? 4 marks
4.

5. Calculate the pH after 30mL of 0.02 mol L-1 sodium hydroxide is added to 40mL of 0.25 mol L-1
hydrochloric acid. Include a balanced chemical equation in your answer? 3 marks