Chapter 5

Acids and Bases

• Calculating the pH of Strong Acid Solutions
• Calculating the pH of Weak Acid Solutions
The pH Scale
pH = -log10[H3O+]
SAME AS

pH = -log10[H+]
pH < 7 acidic solution
[H3O+] > [OH-]

pH = 7 neutral solution

[H3O+] = [OH-]
pH > 7 basic solution

[H3O+] < [OH-]

Sig figs: for logs: the number of decimal
places in the log is equal to the number of sig
figs in the original number
 pH = -log10[H3O+]
EXAMPLE
Calculate the pH (at 25oC) of an aqueous solution that has an
OH-(aq) concentration of 1.2 x 10-6 M (i.e., mol/liter)

Solution
The concentration of H+ (aq) is
[H+][OH-] = KW
[H+] = KW/[OH-] = 10-14/1.2x10-6 = 8.3 x 10-9
pH = -log[8.3 x 10-9] = 8.1
 Strong Acids
A strong acid is one that dissociates completely in water to
produce H+(aq).
E.g., Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong acid:
HCl (aq) → H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq) (reaction essentially complete)

Dissolving 0.10 mol of HCl in enough water to make 1.0 L of

solution gives a final concentration of 0.10 M for H+(aq).

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

[H+][OH-] = Kw
[OH-] = Kw / [H+] = 10-14/10-1 = 10-13
Strong Bases
A strong base reacts
Strongcompletely
Acids andwith water to
Bases
produce OH-(aq) ions.
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base:
Others are KOH–, NH2– (amide ion) and H– (Hydride ion)
NaOH (s) → Na+ (aq) + OH- (aq)
(reaction essentially complete)

Dissolving 0.10 mol of NaOH in enough water to make 1.0 L

of solution gives a final concentration of 0.10 M for OH- (aq).
From this you can calculate pH and pOH.

[H+][OH-] = Kw
[H+] = Kw/[OH-] =10-14/10-1 = 10-13
[OH-] = 10-1 [H+] = 10-13
pOH = 1 pH = 13
 Weak Bases

B (aq) + H2O (l) BH+ (aq) + OH– (aq)

B = Base

Kb is the basicity constant

Kb = [BH+][OH–]/[B]
Calculations for solutions of weak bases are similar
to those for weak acids. Bases (B) compete with
OH–, a very strong base, for H+ ions.

B (aq) + H2O (l) BH+ (aq) + OH– (aq)

 Acid-Base Equilibria
Base Strength
– strong acids have weak
conjugate bases
– weak acids have strong
conjugate bases

The strength of a base is

inversely related to the strength
of its conjugate acid; the weaker
the acid, the stronger its
conjugate base, and vice versa

pKa + pKb = pKw

This equation applies to an acid and its conjugate base.
Weak Bases
NH3 is a base Kb = 1.8 x 10-5
NH3 + H20 NH4+ + OH-
acid1 base2 acid2 base1

NH4+ is an acid Ka = 5.6 x 10-10

NH4+ NH3 + H+
acid1 base1
 Weak Bases

NH3 is a base Kb = 1.8 x 10-5

NH3 + H20 NH4+ + OH-

NH4+ is an acid Ka = 5.6 x 10-10

NH4+ NH3 + H+

Ka Kb = Kw = (5.6 x 10-10) (1.8 x 10-5) = 10-14

pKa + pKb = pKw = (-9.25) + (-4.75) = -14

Weak Bases with Weak Acids
NH4+ is an acid Ka(am) = 5.6 x 10-10
NH4+ NH3 + H+
CH3COOH is an acid Ka(aa) = 1.8 x 10-5
CH3COOH CH3COO- + H+
change the direction of the aa reaction and add them together

NH4+ + CH3COO- NH3 + CH3COOH

K = Ka(am)/Ka(aa) = 5.6 x 10-10/1.8 x 10-5

Assuming 0.1M NH3 initial, calculate the pH of
the resulting solution
H20 + NH3 NH4+ + OH-
Assuming 0.1M NH3 initial, calculate the pH of
the resulting solution
H20 + NH3 NH4+ + OH-
Init. conc. 0.1M 0 ~0
Change -y +y +y
Equil. conc. 0.1– y y y
 Assuming 0.1M NH3 initial, calculate the pH of
the resulting solution
H20 + NH3 NH4+ + OH-
Init. conc. 0.1M 0 ~0
Change -y +y +y
Equil. conc. 0.1– y y y

[NH 4  ][OH - ] y2
Kb  
[NH 3 ][1] 0.1  y [H+] =
K b for NH 3  1.8x10 5 Kw/[OH-] =
assume y is small 10-14/y
y2 5
Kb   1.8x10 pH=-log[H+]
 0.1
y  [OH - ]  [NH 4  ]  1.3x10 -3
SUMMARY
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