Acid Base

Theories
SCH3UE - Twomey

Topics 8.1, 8.2, 8.4, 18.1

Properties of Acids & Bases
ACIDS
Sour taste (vinegar)
React with some metal to form H2 gas
Mg(s) + 2 HCl(aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
Turns blue litmus red
Colourless in phenolphthalein
Conduct electricity
BASES
Bitter taste (baking soda)
Feels slippery (soap)
Turns red litmus blue
Pink in phenolphthalein
Conduct electricity
Arrhenius Theory of Acids & Bases
● Acid: A substance that dissociates to give a hydrogen cation (H+)

HNO3 (aq) —> H+ (aq)

+ NO3- (aq)

● Base: A substance that dissociates to give a hydroxide anion (OH-)

Ca(OH)2 (aq) → Ca2+ (aq) + 2 OH- (aq)

A Closer Look at Arrhenius
● It is more correct to think of acids forming H3O+ (hydronium) ions in solution
H2O (l) + H+ (aq) → H3O+ (aq)

● What about the compounds without OH- that produce basic solutions?
○ Ammonia (NH3), carbonates (CO32-), bicarbonates (HCO3-), etc.

● There are limitations to Arrhenius that are addressed by other acid-base theories…
Bronsted-Lowry Acid-Base Theory
● Acids are proton (H+) donors

Ex: HF (aq) + H2O (l) → H3O+ (aq) + F- (aq) (HF acts as an acid, H2O acts as a base)

● Bases are proton (H+) acceptors

Ex: NH3 (aq) + H2O (l) → NH4+ (aq) + OH- (aq) (NH3 acts as a base, H2O acts as an acid)

● The conjugate base of a BL acid is the species that remains when one
proton has been removed, and vice versa!
Note: Acids can be
monoprotic,
diprotic, or triprotic
depending on the
number of hydrogen
ions, or protons,
that they can donate
in acid-base
reactions
Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs
● The chemical formula of conjugate acids and bases differ by ONE proton
Identifying Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs
• HCN (aq) + H2O (l) ⇋ H3O+ (aq) + CN- (aq)

• CH3COO- (aq) + H2O (l) ⇋ CH3COOH (aq) + OH – (aq)

TRY THIS!
Give the formula of the Give the formula of the
conjugate ACID. conjugate BASE.
1. NO2- → 1. H3O+ →

2. OH- → 2. NH3 →

3. CO32- → 3. H2CO3 →
Amphiprotic Substances
● Substances which can act as both Bronsted-Lowry acids OR bases,
meaning they can either accept OR donate a proton!

● The following features enable them to have this “double-identity”:

1. To act as a Bronsted-Lowry acid → they must be able to dissociate and

release H+.

2. To act as a Bronsted-Lowry base → they must be able to accept H+, which

means they must have a lone pair of electrons.
Autoionization of Water
● Water is amphiprotic, meaning that it can act as BOTH an acid
(donating H+) or as a base (accepting H+)

● Interestingly, it can do both within the same reaction!

This is called the autoionization of water:
TRY THIS!
Write equations to show HCO3- reacting with water.

(a) HCO3- acting as an acid

(b) HCO3- acting as a base

Reactions of Acids Review (we did these in unit 1!)
● Acids and bases neutralize each other, forming water and an ionic
compound

● Acids may be synthesized by adding a non-metal oxide to water.

● Acids react with metals to produce hydrogen gas and a new ionic
compound

● Acids react with carbonate and hydrogen carbonate compounds to

produce an ionic compound, carbon dioxide, and water
Reactions of Acids and Bases
● Bases may be synthesized by the reaction of a metal oxide and
water.

● If you place a metal oxide in an acid, it will react with water first,
then neutralization will proceed. A salt and water will be produced.
Strong vs. Weak Acids
● Strong acids completely dissociate/ionize into their ions in water
○ all the molecules of acid react with the water to produce hydronium (H 3O+), or
hydrogen (H+) ions
○ Include all binary acids (except HF), and some oxyacids
○ Produce a WEAK conjugate base

○ Ex: HCl (aq) + H2O (l) → H3O+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)

● Weak acids only partially dissociate/ionize in water → some un-ionized

acid remains
○ Produce a strong conjugate base
○ The extent of ionization can be represented using an equilibrium constant (Topic 7/17!)

○ Ex: CH3COOH (aq) + H2O (l) ⇋ H3O+ (aq) + CH3COO- (aq)

Strong vs. Weak Acids
Strong vs. Weak Bases
● Strong bases completely dissociate into their ions in water
○ Include Group I and II hydroxides
○ Produce a WEAK conjugate acid

○ Ex: NaOH (aq) → Na+ (aq) + OH- (aq)

● Weak bases only partially ionize in water → some un-ionized base remains
○ Produce a strong conjugate acid
○ The extent of ionization can be represented using an equilibrium constant (Topic 7/17!)

○ Ex: NH3 (aq) + H2O (l) ⇋ NH4+ (aq) + OH- (aq)

Distinguishing Between Weak and Strong Acids and Bases
Distinguishing Between Weak and Strong Acids and Bases
Lewis Acid-Base Theory
● Acids are electron pair acceptors (sometimes called electrophiles)

● Bases are electron pair donors (sometimes called nucleophiles)

● Result in the formation of a coordinative covalent (dative) bond

because both electrons come from the Lewis base
○ Lewis acid has an empty orbital to accept the lone pair of electrons
Transition Metals are Lewis Acids!

Lewis Lewis
acid base
TRY THIS!
For each of the following reactions, identify the Lewis acid & base.

a) 4 NH3 (aq) + Zn2+ (aq) ↔ [Zn(NH3)4]2+ (aq)

b) 2 Cl- (aq) + BeCl2 (aq) ↔ [BeCl4]2- (aq)

c) Mg2+ (aq) + 6 H2O (l) ↔ [Mg(H2O)6]2+ (aq)

Summary of Acid-Base Theories