Acids and Bases

Bronsted Lowry Acid

Acids give hydrogen ions to bases:

HCl(aq) + NH3(aq) ⇒ NH4+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

The acid must have an ionizable hydrogen atom. Not all hydrogen atoms are
capable of being ionized.
Some Bronsted Lowry Acids
HCl

HNO3

HC2H3O2 (sometimes written CH3COOH)

Acid formulas are typically written with a hydrogen atom written in the front (or end in the
case of alcohols or carboxylic acids) of the formula.
Polyprotic Acids
Acids that are capable of giving away more than one hydrogen ion. Examples
include:

H2CO3

H3PO4

H2SO4
Bronsted Lowry Base
Bases accept hydrogen ions from acids:

HCl(aq) + NH3(aq) ⇒ NH4+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

The base must have the ability to form a covalent bond with a hydrogen ion.
Some Bronsted Lowry Bases
NH3 (nitrogen centered compounds are bases unless positively charged at the
nitrogen)

Any negatively charged ion can act as a Bronsted Lowry base.

HNO3(aq) + ClO-(aq) ⇒ HClO(aq) + NO3-(aq)

Arrhenius Acids and Bases
Acids are molecules that will, when added to water, convert the water into the
hydronium ion.

HCl(aq) + H2O(l) ⇒ H3O+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

Arrhenius believed that bases had to contain the hydroxide ion in their formula (he
was incorrect about this). His definition of bases is historically significant but it only
identifies some bases (ionic hydroxide compounds)

NaOH(aq) ⇒ Na+(aq) + OH-(aq)

Arrhenius bases must be ionic and contain the hydroxide ion.

Some notes about Bronsted Lowry vs Arrhenius
Definitions
● All Bronsted Lowry Acids are also Arrhenius Acids
● Bronsted Lowry Bases are completely different from Arrhenius Bases

○ Bronsted Lowry Bases accept hydrogen ions

○ Arrhenius Bases are ionic compounds that contain hydroxide ion

Naming Acids
Treat acids like an ionic compound in which hydrogen is the cation

Identify the name of the anion, the formula for naming the acid depends on the
anion:

Anion ends with “_” Acid Name Formula Example Acid Name

Ide “Hydro ___ ic Acid” HCl Hydrochloric acid

chloride

ate “ ___ic Acid” HNO3 Nitric acid

Nitrate

ite “___ous Acid” H2SO3 Sulfurous acid

Sulfite
Acid Naming Practice
Name the following acids: HNO3

H2CO3 HF

CH3COOH (HC2H3O2) HClO3

H3PO4 H2O

HCN HClO2

H3PO3
Acid/Base Reactions
Most acid base reactions will take place in an aqueous environment, meaning all
species will be aqueous except for water (which will be in the liquid state).

Remember that acids lose protons (H+) to bases. Bases will take protons from
acids. To write acid base reactions, simply move the proton from the acid to the
base and PAY ATTENTION TO CHARGE!

HCl(aq) + NH3(aq) ⇒ NH4+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

Arrhenius bases will go through a double displacement reaction with an acid

producing some type of salt and water

NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq)  NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)

Bronsted Lowry/Arrhenius Acids and Water
HA(aq) + H2O(l) ⇒ A-(aq) + H3O+(aq)

This reaction can be written another way. Instead of showing the formation of the
hydronium ion, one can simply show the dissociation of the acid into its anion and
hydrogen ion. The hydrogen ion and the hydronium ion are treated like the same
thing in an aqueous environment.

HA(aq) ⇒ A-(aq) + H+(aq)

Bronsted Lowry Bases and Water
B(aq) + H2O(l) ⇒ HB+(aq) + OH-(aq)
Arrhenius Bases and Water
These are not really reactions with water. Since all Arrhenius bases are ionic
compounds containing hydroxide. They should be shown the same way salts
ionizing in water are shown.

NaOH(s) ⇒ Na+(aq) + OH-(aq)

Ca(OH)2(s) ⇒ Ca+2(aq) + 2OH-(aq)

Write the Balanced Reaction Representing the
Following in Water
NH3

HF

CH3COOH

Ba(OH)2

CH3NH2
Write the Balanced Reaction Representing the
Following in Water
NH3 NH3(aq) + H2O(l) ⇒ NH4+(aq) + OH-(aq)

HF HF(aq) + H2O(l) ⇒ H3O+(aq) + F-(aq)

CH3COOH CH3COOH(aq) + H2O(l) ⇒ H3O+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq)

Ba(OH)2 Ba(OH)2(s) ⇒ Ba+2(aq) + 2OH-(aq)

CH3NH2 CH3NH2(aq) + H2O(l) ⇒ CH3NH3+(aq) + OH-(aq)

Identifying Acids/Bases

Acids Bronsted / Arrhenius Bases

 If an acid fits one of these  Bronsted Bases are proton acceptors, look
definitions, it fits both for:
 Amines (nitrogen/hydrogen groups)
 Acids will (most of the time) be  NH3
written with ionizable hydrogen
 CH3NH2
atoms at the front of the formula
 Negative Charges
 HNO3  OCl-

 H2SO4  OH-
 Arrhenius Bases are metal hydroxides
 HC2H3O2
 NaOH
 Cu(OH)2
The pH Scale
The entire pH scale is centered around water and its acid base properties. We
start by looking at the “self-ionization” of water into hydrogen and hydroxide ions
and the equilibrium constant associated with it:

H2O (l) ⇔ H+ (aq) + OH- (aq) Kw = [H+][OH-] = 1.0 x 10-14

Percent Dissociation
Acids and bases are said to be “strong” or “weak” based on what percentage of
them actually ionize. Example:

When 1 mole of HCl is dissolved in 1 L of water, 99.999923% of it ionizes into H+

so the acid is said to be “strong”.

When 1 mole of HCN is dissolved in 1 L of water, only 0.00249% of it ionizes into

H+ so HCN is said to be “weak”.

To be considered “strong” the acid must ionize completely (very close to 100%).
Calculating Percent Dissociation
The pH of a 0.100 M HClO solution is found to be 1.46. What percentage of the
acid ionized?

Calculate the [H+] from the pH. Use this to determine what percentage of the
solution ionized.

HClO(aq) ⇔ H+(aq) +ClO-(aq)

Practice Calculating Percent Ionization
The pH of a 0.45 M acetic acid solution is found to be 2.55. What percentage of
the acid ionized?

Calculate the pOH, [H+], and [OH-]

Calculations Review Problem
A 0.85 M HCN solution has a 0.0028% ionization.
Calculate the pH, pOH, [H+], and [OH-] in a 0.85 M HCN solution:
The Strong Acids and Bases

Strong Acids Strong Bases

HCl Alkali Metal Hydroxides

HBr Ca(OH)2
HI Sr(OH)2
HNO3 Ba(OH)2
H2SO4 (only the first hydrogen ion is strong)
HClO4

You will need to recognize these lists. All other acids/bases are weak.
Water Self Ionization
H2O(l)  H+(aq) + OH-(aq) Kw = 1.00x10-14

Kw = 1.00x10-14 = [H+][OH-]

Calculate the concentration of H+ in pure water:

Calculate the concentration of OH- in pure water:

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

- log [H+] = pH

- log [OH-] = pOH

pH + pOH = 14

10-pH = [H+]

10-pOH = [OH-]
Calculate the pH, pOH, [H+], and [OH-] in the
following strong acid or strong base solutions:
0.35 M HNO3

0.25 M HCl

0.11 M NaOH

0.20 M Ba(OH)2

12 M HCl
Weak Acids
Weak acids do not ionize completely so the [H+] in a solution of weak acid is not
equal to the acid concentration. The [H+] in a weak acid solution depends on the
acid dissociation constant (Ka)

For a weak acid “HA”

HA(aq) ⇔ H+(aq) + A-(aq) Ka = [H+][A-] / [HA]

Weak Bases
Weak bases will not completely react to form hydroxide. The [OH-] in a weak base
solution will depend on the base dissociation constant (Kb).

For a weak base “B”

B(aq) + H2O(l) ⇔ HB+(aq) + OH-(aq)

Kb = [HB+][OH-] / [B]
Calculate the pH of a 1.50 M HNO2 given its
Ka = 4.0 x 10-4
Calculate the pH of a 4.50 M pyridine (C5H5N)
solution given its Kb = 1.7 x 10-9
1.00 mole of a weak acid is dissolved into 2.0L of water. 1.65% of the acid ionizes
into the solution. Calculate the Ka of the acid.
Conjugate Acid/Base Pairs
Bronsted Lowry Conjugates
Conjugate of Arrhenius Bases
● Think of metal ions as the conjugate acids of Arrhenius bases

○ NaOH is the conjugate base of Na+

○ Cu(OH)2 is the conjugate base of Cu2+

Relative Strengths of Conjugate Pairs
For a conjugate acid/base pair:

Ka x Kb = Kw

The stronger an acid, the weaker its conjugate base.

The conjugate of a strong is so incredibly weak, it is negligble.
The conjugate of a weak is not strong, but it cannot be ignored.
The Strong Acids and Bases

Strong Acids Strong Bases

HCl Alkali Metal Hydroxides

HBr Ca(OH)2
HI Sr(OH)2
HNO3 Ba(OH)2
H2SO4 (only the first hydrogen ion is strong)
HClO4

You will need to memorize these lists. All other acids/bases are weak.
pH of Salt Solutions
Cations act as acids, anions act as bases.

If the ion happens to be the conjugate of a strong acid or a strong base, its effect
on pH can be completely ignored.

If the ion is the conjugate of a weak acid, it needs to be treated as a weak base.
If the ion is the conjugate of a weak base, it needs to be treated as a weak acid.
pH of Salt Solution
The Ka of acetic acid is 1.8x10-5. Determine the pH of a 0.5M NaCH3COO
solution.
pH of Salt Solution
● Ammonia has a Kb of 1.8x10-5. Calculate the pH of a 0.250 M NH4Cl solution.
Predict if the following salt solutions would be acidic,
basic, or neutral.
● KF
● NH4Cl
● NaNO2
● CaCO3
● LiCN
● CH3NH3Br (methylammonium bromide)
Neutralization Reactions
Acids will give their protons to bases.
● With Bronsted bases, the base will take the proton from the acid

CH3NH2(aq) + HCl(aq)  CH3NH3+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

● With Arrhenius bases, the hydroxide ion is the base, and the cation is just a spectator.
The products include water and some kind of ionic compound (salt).

HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) ⇒ NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)

Net Ionic:

H+(aq) + OH-(aq) ⇒ H2O(l)

Titrations
Acid-Base Titrations
A solution of unknown concentration (titrate) is neutralized with a solution of known
concentration (titrant). An indicator is used to signal when the two solutions have
been combined in equal molar amounts

(moles of titrate in sample = moles of titrant added to reach end point)

The concentration of the unknown sample can be calculated from the volume of
known sample used to reach end point.
How many moles of hydrochloric acid are in a 35.0 mL sample of 0.945 M
hydrochloric acid solution?
You titrate a 15.0 mL sample of a hydrobromic acid solution using 0.320 M
potassium hydroxide solution. An indicator is used to signal when the end point is
reached. It takes 43.50 mL of titrant to reach the end point.

a. Write the reaction that takes place in the flask as the titrant (known
concentration) is added.

b. Calculate the molarity of the hydrobromic acid solution.

c. Calculate the pH of the hydrobromic acid solution.

d. Sketch a titration curve representing the titration.

Titration Curves
pH of the titrate solution is monitored during the titration. pH is plotted vs the
volume of titrant added.
Titration Curves - Strong Base and Weak Acid
NaOH(aq) + CH3COOH(aq) ⇔ NaCH3COO(aq) + H2O(l)

Since the salt produced during the

titration is basic, the end point pH
will be slightly basic.

End points are never exactly 7 when

a weak acid or a weak base are
involved.