Acids and Bases Concept

Chapter 4
Kimia Dasar II (CH1201)
2017-2018

References:
Brady, J, E., Jepersen, N. D., Hyslop A., 2012, Chemistry, 7th Edition, International Student Version, John Wiley and Sons.
Raymond Chang and Kenneth A. Goldsby, 2012, Chemistry, McGraw-Hill
Outline:
• Bronsted-Lowry Definition of Acids and
Bases
• Strength of Bronsted-Lowry Acids and
Bases
• Periodic Trends in Strength of Acids
• Lewis Definition of Acids and Bases
• Acids-Bases Properties of Elements and
Their Oxides.
• Numerical scales of the acidity or basicity
in aqueous solution.
Acids and Bases

Acids
It tastes acid.
• Vinegar contains acetic acids
• Orange contains citrate acids

• React with metals to produce Hydrogen gas

• React with Carbonate or bicarbonate to produce CO2 gas

Bases
• It tastes bitter, and feels slippery
Arrhenius Acids-Bases Theory
• Arrhenius theory of Acids and Bases:
➢ Acids are substance which produce Hydrogen ion
(H+)in solution
➢Bases are substance which produce Hydroxide ion
(OH-) in solution.
➢Acid and base combine to produce water and a salt.

Example: HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → H2O(l) + NaCl(aq)

Limitation :
Arrhenius theory did not handle non OH-
bases such as ammonia very well.
Limitation of Arrhenius Theory
Acids-Bases reaction involving Ammonia is
not covered by Arrhenius Theory
Brønsted-Lowry Definition of Acids
and Bases
• Acid = proton donor
• Base = proton acceptor
• Allows for gas phase acid-base reactions

Example :

HCl = Acid, Donates H +

Water = Base, Accepts H +
Acid-Base must be in Pair
In Reaction : (Strong acid in water)

HCl = Acid Cl - = Conjugate base of HCl

Water = Base H 3 O + = Conjugate acid of H 2 O
Weak Acid as Brønsted Acid
• Formic Acid is weak acid
• Considering in equilibrium, it partially dissociates
to become Formate ion (CHO2-) and Hydronium
(H3O+)

Conjugate Pair

+ +

HCHO2 H2O H3O+ CHO2-

(Acid) (Base)

Conjugate Pair
Amphoteric Substances
Definition: A substance, either molecules
or ions, which can act as acid or base.

Example : Hydrogen Carbonate ion (HCO3-)

Acid:
HCO3–(aq) + OH–(aq) → CO32–(aq) + H2O(ℓ)

Base:

HCO3–(aq) + H3O+(aq) → H2CO3(aq) + H2O(ℓ)

→ 2H2O(ℓ) + CO2(g)
Learning Check
• Identify the Conjugate Partner for Each

conjugate base conjugate acid

Cl- HCl
NH3 NH4+
C2H3O2- HC2H3O2
CN– HCN
F- HF
HCO3- H2CO3
Your Turn !
In the following reaction, identify the acid/base
conjugate pair.

(CH3)2NH + H2SO4 → (CH3)2NH2+ + HSO4-

A. (CH3)2NH / H2SO4 ; (CH3)2NH2+ / HSO4-

B. (CH3)2NH / (CH3)2NH2+ ; H2SO4 / HSO4-
C. H2SO4 / HSO4- ; (CH3)2NH2+ / (CH3)2NH
D. H2SO4 / (CH3)2NH ; (CH3)2NH2+ / HSO4-
Your Turn !
Which of the following can act as an amphoteric
substance?

A. CH3COOH
B. HCl
C. NO2-
D. HPO42-
Strength of Bronsted-Lowry Acids
and Bases
Strength of Acid
• Measure of its ability to
transfer H+
• Strong acids
• Completely ionized in water
Ex. HCl and HNO3
• Weak acids
• Less than completely ionized
Ex. CH3COOH and CHOOH

In water
Strongest acid = hydronium ion (H3O+)
• If more powerful H+ donor added to H2O
• Reacts with H2O to produce H3O+
Strength of Bronsted-Lowry Acids
and Bases
Strength of Base classified in similar fashion:
• Strong bases
• React completely with water Ex. Oxide ion (O2−) and
OH−
• Weak bases
• Undergo incomplete reactions
Ex. NH3 and NRH2 (NH2CH3, methylamine)

In water
Strongest base is hydroxide ion (OH−)
• More powerful H+ acceptors
• React with H2O to produce OH−
Position of Acid-Base Equilibrium
• Example : Acetic acid (HC2H3O2) is weak acid
• Ionizes only slightly in water

weaker acid weaker base stronger acid stronger base

• Hydronium ion
• Better H+ donor than acetic acid
• Stronger acid
• Acetate ion
• Better H+ acceptor than water
• Stronger base
• Position of equilibrium favors weaker acid and base
Summary : Acid – Bases Strength
• Stronger acids and bases tend to react with
each other to produce their weaker
conjugates
• Stronger Brønsted acid has weaker
conjugate base
• Weaker Brønsted acid has stronger
conjugate base
• Can be applied to binary acids (acids made
from hydrogen and one other element)
Conjugate Pairs Have Reciprocal
17

Strengths
• The stronger the
acid, the weaker its
conjugate base
• The stronger the
base, the weaker its
conjugate acid
• Strong acids are
ionized 100%: their
anions are
extraordinarily poor
bases - most are
neutral

15.2 Strengths of Brønsted acids and bases follow periodic trends

Your Turn
In the reaction:
HCl + H2O → H3O+ + Cl-
which species is the weakest base ?

A. HCl
B. H2O
C. H3O+
D. Cl-
Learning Check
Identify the preferred direction of the following
reactions:
Periodic Trends in Strength of Acids

Trends in Strength of Acids:

▪Binary Acids
▪Oxoacids
▪Organic Acids
Trends in Binary Acid Strength
Definition of Binary Acid:
Binary compound where one element is Hydrogen, and
the other is a nonmetal. (HnX)

X = Cl, Br, P, As, S, Se, etc

1. Acid strength  from left to right within

same period (across row)
▪ Acid strength  as electronegativity of X 
▪ Ex. HCl is stronger acid than H2S which is
stronger acid than PH3
or PH3 < H2S < HCl
Trends in Binary Acid Strength
Binary Acids = HnX
X = Cl, Br, P, As, S, Se, etc.

2. Acid strength  from top to bottom

within group
▪ Acid strength  as size of X 
▪ Ex. HCl is weaker acid than HBr which is weaker
acid than HI
or HCl < HBr < HI
Trends in Oxoacid Strength
Oxoacid is an acid that contain hydrogen,
oxygen and at least one other element.
Molecule Formula : HnYOm
Example : HClO, HIO4, H2SO3, H2SO4

1. Acids with same number of O’s and differing Y

a. Acid strength  from bottom to top within
group
HIO4 < HBrO4 < HClO4
b. Acid strength  from left to right within period
H3PO4 < H2SO4 < HClO4
 as electronegativity of central atom 
Trends in Oxoacid Strength
Oxoacids (HnYOm)
2. For same Y
• Acid strength  as number of O’s 
• H2SO3 < H2SO4
• More oxygens, remove more electron
density from central atom, weakening
O—H bond and make H more acidic

d−
d−

Nitrous Acid
d−
Nitric Acid
Learning Check
Which is stronger acid ?
• H2S or H2O • H2S

• CH4 or NH3 • NH3

• HF or HI • HI
Learning Check
Which is the stronger acid in each pair?

• H2SO4 or H3PO4 H2SO4

• HNO3 or H3PO3 HNO3

H2SO4
• H2SO4 or H2SO3

• HNO3 or HNO2 HNO3

Your Turn
Which corresponds to the correct order of acidity
from weakest to strongest acid ?

A. HBrO3, HBrO, HBrO2

B. HBrO, HBrO2, HBrO3
C. HBrO, HBrO3, HBrO2
D. HBrO3, HBrO2, HBrO
Alternate Definition of Acid Strength
• Acid strength can be analyzed in terms of
basicity of anion formed during ionization
• Basicity
• Willingness of anion to accept H+ from H3O+
• Consider HClO3 (Chloric Acid) and
HClO4 (Perchloric Acid):

HClO3

HClO4
Comparing Basicity

• Lone O’s carry most of (−) charge

• ClO4− has 4 O atoms, so each has − ¼ charge
• ClO3− has 3 O atoms, so each has − 1/3 charge
• ClO4− weaker base than ClO3−
• Thus conjugate acid, HClO4, is stronger acid
• HClO4 stronger acid as more fully ionized
Strength of Organic Acids
▪ Organic Acids : −COOH
▪ Presence of electronegative atoms (halide,
nitrogen or other oxygen) near —COOH group
• Withdraws electron density from O—H bond
• Makes organic acid, stronger acids

Ex : CH3CO2H < CH2ClCO2H < CHCl2CO2H < CCl3CO2H

Your Turn:
Which of the following is the strongest
organic acid?

A H O B H O C H O

I C C OH Br C C OH H C C OH

H H H

D H O E H O

F C C OH Cl C C OH

H H
Lewis Definition of Acids and Bases

Definition:
Lewis acid
❑ Any ionic or molecular species that can
accept pair of e−’s
❑ Formation of coordinate covalent bond

Lewis base
❖ Any ionic or molecular species that can
donate pair of e−’s
❖ Formation of coordinate covalent bond
Lewis Acid
1. Molecules or ions with incomplete valence
shells
Ex. BF3 or H+
2. Molecules or ions with complete valence
shells, but with multiple bonds that can be
shifted to make room for more electrons
Ex. CO2
3. Molecules or ions that have central atoms
that can expand their octets
• Capable of holding additional electrons
• Usually, atoms of elements in Period 3 and below
Ex. SO2
Lewis Acid : BF3
❖Formation of coordinate covalent bond between
electron pair donor and electron pair acceptor

Covalent Bond formation

(Coordinate covalent)
Lewis Acid: CO2
Covalent Bond formation
(Coordinate covalent)

Lewis Base

Lewis Acid

HO- CO2 HCO3-

Lewis Acid: Expand Their Octet

Covalent Bond formation

(Coordinate covalent)

Lewis Base

Lewis Acid

SO2 O2- SO32-

Lewis Bases
• Molecules or ions that have unshared
electron pairs and that have complete
shells
• Ex. O2– or NH3

Lewis Definition is Most General

• All Brønsted acids and bases are Lewis acids and
bases
• All Arrhenius acids and bases are Brønsted acids
and bases
Lewis Base: H + Transfer to NH3
e- pair in the OH bond shift
to the Oxygen as the water
molecule is formed.

+ +

The e- pair of the Nitrogen

captures the H+ (Lewis acid) from
the oxygen of the Hydronium ion.

N H + +
Learning Check
Identify the Lewis acid and base in the
following:

1. NH3 + H+ → NH4+
Base Acid
2. F– + BF3 → BF4 –
Base Acid
3. SeO3 + O2– → SeO42–
Acid Base
Your Turn
Which of the following species can act as a
Lewis base ?

A. Cl-
B. Fe2+
C. NO2-
D. O2-
Acid-Base Properties of Elements
and Their Oxides
Nonmetal oxides
▪ React with H2O to form acids
▪ Upper right hand corner of periodic
table
▪ Acidic Anhydrides
▪ Neutralize bases
▪ Aqueous solutions red to litmus
• SO3(g) + H2O(ℓ) ⎯→ H2SO4(aq)
• N2O5(g) + H2O(ℓ) ⎯→ 2HNO3(aq)
• CO2(g) + H2O(ℓ) ⎯→ H2CO3(aq)
Acid-Base Properties of Elements
and Their Oxides
Metal oxides
❖ React with H2O to form hydroxide
(Base)
❖ Group 1A and 2A metals (left hand side
of periodic table)
❖ Basic Anydrides
❖ Neutralize acids
❖ Aqueous solutions blue to litmus
• Na2O(s) + H2O(ℓ) ⎯→ 2NaOH(aq)
• CaO(s) + H2O(ℓ) ⎯→ Ca(OH)2(aq)
Numerical scale to specify the acidity
or basicity in aqueous solution

In a solution, water can undergo auto

ionization to form H3O+ and OH-.
Self Ionization of Water
conjugate conjugate
base acid acid base

H2O(l) + H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + OH-(aq)

[H3O+][OH-]
Kc=
[H2O][H2O]

KW= Kc[H2O][H2O] = [H3O+][OH-] = 1.010-14

Kw is The equilibrium constant for

the auto ionization of water
Definition of p in pH,pOH or pKw

The potential of the hydrogen ion was defined in

1909 as the negative of the logarithm of [H+].

pH = -log [H3O+]
pOH = -log [OH-]
pKw = -log Kw

KW = [H3O+][OH-]= 1.010-14
-logKW = -log[H3O+]-log[OH-]= -log(1.010-14)
pKW = pH + pOH= -(-14)
pKW = pH + pOH = 14
pH and pOH Scales
Learning Check

What is the concentration of OH- ions in a HCl

solution whose hydrogen ion concentration is
1.3 M?

Kw = [H+][OH-] = 1.0 x 10-14

[H+] = 1.3 M

Kw 1 x 10-14
[OH-] = = = 7.7 x 10-15 M
[H+] 1.3
Learning Check
1. 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?

pH = -log [H+]
[H+] = 10-pH = 10-4.82 = 1.5 x 10-5 M

2. The OH- ion concentration of a blood sample is 2.5 x 10-7

M. What is the pH of the blood?
pH + pOH = 14.00
pOH = -log [OH-] = -log (2.5 x 10-7) = 6.60
pH = 14.00 – pOH = 14.00 – 6.60 = 7.40
Learning Check
What is the pH of a 2 x 10-3 M HNO3 solution?

HNO3 is a strong acid – 100% dissociation.

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

Start 0.002 M 0.0 M 0.0 M

End 0.0 M 0.002 M 0.002 M

pH = -log [H+] = -log [H3O+] = -log(0.002) = 2.7
See You in The Next Chapter...

References:
Brady, J, E., Jepersen, N. D., Hyslop A., 2012, Chemistry, 7th Edition, International Student Version, John Wiley and Sons.
Raymond Chang and Kenneth A. Goldsby, 2012, Chemistry, McGraw-Hill