Acid-Base

Chemistry
Introductory Notes

1
 Arrhenius Theory:
Ion Emphasis
Arrhenius Acid Arrhenius Base

Increases H+ in solution Increases OH- in solution

Example: Example:

2
 Bronsted-Lowry Theory:
Proton Emphasis
Bronsted Acid Bronsted Base

Proton donor Proton Acceptor

Example: Example:

3
 Learning Check
Write a reaction to show how H3PO4 behaves as a Bronsted
Lowry Acid:

Write a reaction to show how CH3NH2 behaves as a

Bronsted Lowry Base:

(Hint: React each with water!)

4
 Bronsted-Lowry Theory:
Conjugate Acid – Base Pairs

HA(aq) + H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + A-

Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs:

Two substances in aqueous solution whose
formulas differ by a H+. (The acid is the
more positive species having the extra H.)

5
 Bronsted-Lowry Theory:
Conjugate Acid – Base Pairs
Identify each of the reactants as an acid or base. Also
label the conjugate acid-base pairs in each.

1. HNO3 + H2O → H3O+ + NO3-

2. CH3COOH + H2O → H3O+ + CH3COO-

3. NH3 + H2O → NH4+ + OH-

4. H2SO3 + H2O → HSO3- + H3O+

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 pH
A measure of [H+] and [OH-]

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 Calculating pH
[H+] [OH-]

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

[H3O+] = 10-pH [OH-] = 10-pOH

Relationship between pH & pOH

pH + pOH = 14.0
[H3O+][OH-] = 1x10-14

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 pH Calculations
If [H+] = 1.0 x 10-5 M Sig Fig Tip:
is the solution acidic, The number of sig figs in
basic, or neutral? a pH measurement is
equal to the number of
decimal places in the pH.

For example, 1.70 has 2

sig figs.

What is the [OH-] of

this solution?

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 pH Calculations
Determine the pH of the following solutions:

a. [H+] = 1.0 x 10-6 M

b. [H+] = 0.0001 M

c. [OH-] = 1.0 x 10-2 M

d. [OH-] = 1.0 x 10-11 M

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 pH Calculations
What are the hydroxide-ion
concentrations of solutions with the
following pH values?

a. 6.0 b. 9.0

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 pH Calculations
What is the pH of a solution if
the [OH-] = 4.0 x 10-11 M?

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pH Scale: Inverse Relationship of [H+]
and [OH-]
Self-Ionization of Water

H2 O + H 2 O  H3O+ + OH-

At 25, [H3O+] = [OH-] = 1 x 10-7

Kw = [H3O+][OH-]
Kw = (1 x 10-7)(1 x 10-7) = 1 x 10-14

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 pH Summary
pH = -log[H3O+]
The pH of a solution depends on:

(1) Molarity of the Solution

(2) Acid or Base Strength

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 Acid Strength
Strong Acids Weak Acids

HCl HBr HI
HNO3 H2SO4 HClO4

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 Base Strength
Strong Bases Weak Bases

Group I Hydroxides Examples:

Ca, Ba, Sr Hydroxides Ammonia
Organic Amines (-NH2)
Pyridines

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Suppose you have a 0.25 M
solution of CH3COOH.
Learning
Check
Is the concentration of H+1
greater than, less than, or
equal to 0.25 M?

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 Effect of Structure on Acid Strength
Binary Acids, HA
Group Trend: Period Trend:
Acidity ↑’s as you move down a Acidity ↑’s as you move across
group a period

Electronegativity ↑’s

Example:
CH4 < NH3 < H2O < HF

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Effect of Structure on Acid Strength
Oxyacids, H–O–X
Acid strength ↑’s with an increase
in the number of oxygen
atoms attached to the central
atom.

Why?

Acid strength ↑’s as

electronegativity of X ↑’s

Why?

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 Learning check
(1) Explain why H2S is stronger acid than H2O

(2) Rank in order of increasing acid strength for the following

acids:
H2SO3 H3BO3 HNO3 H2CO3

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 Learning check: Answer
(1) Explain why H2S is stronger acid than H2O
• S (n=3) is a larger atom than O (n=2)
• Thus, the H – S bond is weaker than the H – O bond, allowing
for greater dissociation of the H+ in H2S

(2) Rank in order of increasing acid strength for the following

acids:
H2SO3 H3BO3 HNO3 H2CO3

H3BO3 H2CO3 H2SO3 HNO3

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 Learning check
Predict which acid below would conduct
the stronger electric current in solution.
Explain.

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 Summary of Acid Strength
Type of Acid, HA Reactants or Particle Diagram Calculating pH
Products Favored

HA → H+ + A-
Strong

HA ↔ H+ + A-
Weak

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 Acid Strength, Ka
Conjugate Conjugate
Acid Ka Formula Ka
Base Base
HClO4 Very
ClO4- HIO3 IO3- 1.7 x 10-1
large

Very H2C2O4 HC2O4- 5.9 x 10-2

HI I -
large H2SO3 HSO3- 1.5 x 10-2
Very
HBr Br-
large
H3PO4 H2PO4- 7.5 x 10-3

Very H3C6H5O7 H2C6H5O7- 7.1 x 10-4

HCl Cl -
large
HNO2 NO2- 4.6 x 10-4
HNO3 Very
NO3- HF F- 3.5 x 10-4
large

H2SO Very HCOOH HCOO- 1.8 x 10-4

HSO4-
4
large C6H5COOH C6H5COO- 6.5 x 10-5
H3O+ H2 O 1.0 CH3COOH CH3COO- 1.8 x 10-5
H2CO3 HCO3- 4.3 x 10-7
HClO ClO- 3.0 x 10-8 24
 Acid Strength, Ka
Ka is the Acid Dissociation Constant and
measures the extent to which the acid
dissociates in water:

The Equilibrium Expression for the

reaction is:

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 Base Strength, Kb

Base Conjugate Acid Kb

NH3 NH4+ 1.8 x 10-5

CH3NH2 CH3NH3+ 4.38 x 10-4
C2H5NH2 C2H5NH3+ 5.6 x 10-4
(C2H5)2NH (C2H5)2NH2+ 1.3 x 10-3
(C2H5)3N (C2H5)3NH+ 4.0 x 10-4
HONH2 HONH3+ 1.1 x 10-8
H2NNH2 H2NNH3+ 3.0 x 10-6
C6H5NH2 C6H5NH3+ 3.8 x 10-10
C5H5N C5H5NH+ 1.7 x 10-9

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 Base Strength, Kb
Kb is the Base Dissociation Constant and
measures the extent to which the acid
dissociates in water:

The Equilibrium Expression for the

reaction is:

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 Learning check
(1) Write a reaction to show the ionization of the following acids
and bases

CH3COOH

HCO3-1

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 Learning check
Write the equilibrium expression for Ka for the following:

CH3COOH

Write the equilibrium expression for Kb for the following:

HCO3-1

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 Ka x Kb = Kw = 1.0 x 10-14
What type of relationship does equation
demonstrate?

Acid Ka CBase Kb
HCN 4.9 x 10-10
CN-
HIO3 1.7 x 10-1
IO3-

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 Learning check
(1) Calculate the Kb of F- using the Ka of its conjugate acid.

(2) Compare the relative strength of the conjugate acid pair

above using the Ka and Kb values.

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 Learning check
(1) Calculate the Kb of F- using the Ka of its conjugate acid.

(2) Compare the relative strength of the conjugate acid pair

above using the Ka and Kb values.

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 Learning check
Arrange the following species in order of increasing base
strength.

NO2- ClO2- CN- Cl-

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 Learning check
Arrange the following species in order of increasing base
strength.

NO2- ClO2- CN- Cl-

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 Polyprotic Acids
• Some acids have two or three H’s that can dissociate.
• These acids lose the H’s one at a time in separate steps.
•
• Ex.
• H2CO3 H+ + HCO3- Ka1 = 4.2 x 10-7
•
• HCO3- H+ + CO32- Ka2 = 4.8 x 10-11
•
• Ex.
• H2SO4 → H+ + HSO4- Ka1 = undefined
•
• HSO4- H+ + SO42- Ka2 = 1.3 x 10-2
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