6.

ACIDS AND BASES

Synopsis:
Based on apparent properties, Robert Boyle classified the substance into acids and bases. Acids
1. Sour to taste 2. Turn blue litmus to red 3. Neutralise bases 4. Liberate H2 gas on reaction with metals 5. Aqueous solutions are good conductors 6. They decompose metal carbonates and bicarbo-nates to liberate CO2 Bitter to taste Turn red litmus to blue Neutralise acids They are soapy to touch Aqueous solutions are good conductors

Bases

According to Lavoiser all acids must contain oxygen. But dray proved that all acids must contain Hydrogen but not oxygen. Eg: HCl, HBr, HI, HF etc,. The chemical behaviour of acids and bases is explained by following three theories. 1) Arrhenius theory 2) Bransted - lowery theory 3) Hewis theory

Bronsted Lowery theory of Acids and bases: This is also called protonic theory . Acid : which donates proton Eg: HCl, H2SO4, HNO3 etc. Base : which accepts proton Eg: NH3, PH3, N2H4, R NH2 etc.

Bronsted acid could be a neutral molecule , anion, cation. Neutral molecule HCl, HNO3, H2SO4 etc. Cations H 3 O + , NH + 4
Anions HSO 4 , HCO 3 , H 2 PO 4 , H(PO 4 ) , H 2 (PO 3 ) Bronsted base could be neutral, cation or 2

anion Neutral NH3 , PH3, N2H4 etc. anions CN, Br, I, OH etc. Cations [Al(H2O)5OH)]2+, [Fe(H2O)5OH]2+ Neutralisation : It involves transfer of proton from acid to base and formation of conjugate acid base pair. 1) HCl+ H2O Cl + H 3 O +
A1 B2
A2

B1

A2

2) NH 3 + H 2 O
B1

NH 4 + A1
A1

OH
B2

+ 3) NH 3 + HCl NH 4 + Cl B1 A2 B2

Amphoteric or Amphiprotic substance : The act as both acids and base because they donate proton and accept proton. Eg : H2O 1

Acids and Bases Conjugate acid base pairs : The acid base pair which differs by a proton is called conjugated acid base pair. Acid H = conjugate base Base + H = conjugate acid Eg : Acid HCl H2SO4
HSO 4

Base Cl
HSO 4
SO 2 4

H2S C2H2 CH4

HS CH C
CH3

[Al(H2 O)6 ]3+ [Fe(H2O)6 ]3+

H2 H

[Al(H2 O)5 OH]2+ [Fe(H2O)5 OH]2 +

H e

In any conjugate acid base pair, if the acid is stronger , the base is weak and if base is stronger , the acid is weak. Eg: 1. HCl is strong acid, Cl is weak conjugate base. 2. CH3COOH is weak acid CH3COOis strong base 3. NH3 is weak base, NH+ 4 strong acid 4. HClO4 is strongest acid, ClO 4 weak base

List of conjugate acid base pairs in a particular order of strength. Acid

[Decreases acidic strength]

Base HClO4 HI HBr H2SO4 HCl

ClO 4

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Br

HSO 4

Cl

HNO3
H3O+
HSO 4

NO 3

H2O
SO 2 4

H3PO4 HF CH3COOH H2CO3 HCN

NH+ 4

H 2 PO 4

CH3COO
HCO 3

CN

NH3 OH

H2O

Acids and Bases 16. 17. 18. NH3 OH

NH 2

O 2
CH3

CH4

Strength of bronsted acids and bronsted bases will depend on the ability to donate or to accept proton. Strong acids : which have more ability to donate protons. Eg: HClO4, HCl, H2SO4 Weak acids : which have less tendency to donate proton. Eg: HF, CH3COOH, H2CO3, HCN Among Hydracids HCN is the weakest acid Strong bases : which have greater tendency to accept protons
Eg: OH, CH3COO, CH 3 etc.

Weak bases which have less tendency to accept the proton.

Eg: Cl, ClO 4 , Br , I , NH3..etc.

Levelling effect : The strength of stronger acids like HClO4, H2SO4, HCl, HNO3 will become equal to the strength of H3O+ ion in presence of H2O. This is called levelling effect HClO4 H2SO4 HCl HNO3 = H3O+ Similarly the strength of stronger bases like NaOH, KOH, CsOH will become equal to the strength of OH ion in presence of H2O NaOH KOH CsOH = OH This levelling effect of acids is due to greater proton accepting tendency of H2O and instantly conversion into H3O+ therefore the real strength cannot be determined. The acids like HClO4, H2SO4 etc. cannot be determined in a levelling solvent like H2O. Therefore the strongest acid that can exist in water is H3O+ and the strongest base that can exist is OH ion. In a solvent like glacial acetic acid, the real strength of acids can be determined because of poor tendency to accept protons. Therefore acetic acid is differentiating solvent and the strongest acid that can exist in acetic acid solvent is HClO4. In acetic acid, HClO4 > H2SO4 > HCl > HNO3 Types of solvents: Based on proton donating or proton accepting tendency, solvents are classified into 4 types by bronsted lowery solvents. 1) Protophilic solvents : which accept proton Eg : H2O, NH3 , ether , C2H5OH etc. Protophilic solvents will increase acidic strength and decrease the basic strength. 2) Photogenic solvents : which donate H+ protogenic solvents will decrease the acidic strength and increase the basic strength. 3) Amphiprotic solvents : which donates and accept proton Eg : H2O, C2H5OH 4) Aprotic solvents: which neither donates nor accepts proton. Eg : CCl4, CHCl3, C6H6, Acetone Merits of Bronsted Lowery theory : 1) It could explain acid base behaviour in non aqueous solvents also . Eg: liquid SO2, liquid NH3 2) It could explain the basic nature of substances like NH3. 3) It could explain the acidic nature of HCl gas. 3

Acids and Bases 4) It is more generalized than Arrhenius theory. Limitations of Bronsted Lowery theory : 1) This theory explains behaviour of acids only when there is a base (or) It explains behaviour of base only when there is a acid. (Acid base pairs must be present) 2) It fails to explain the acidic nature of electron deficient compound like BF3, AlCl3 etc. Lewis theory of acids bases : Acid : which accepts electron pair. All electrophiles are Lewis acids Lewis acid must contain suitable vacant orbitals. Eg: BF3, BCl3, AlCl3, H+, Ag+ etc. Base : which donates e pair. All nucleophiles are Lewis bases Lewis base must contain 1 or more lone pairs of electrons. Eg:
NH3 , PH3 , R NH2 , NH2 NH2 ,OH, Cl, H2 O

Neutralisation: It involves formation of coordinate covalent bond by the transfer of e pair form base to acid.
H3 N + BF3 [H3 N BF3] H2 O + H [H2O H]+ or H3 O

H3 N + H [H3N H]+ or NH 4
Cl + AlCl3 [Cl AlCl3 ] or AlC l 4

Types of Lewis acids :

1) All simple cations : Eg : H+, Ag+, Li+, Cu2+, Co3+, Al3+ etc.
Ag+ + 2NH3 Ag(NH3 )2 +

2) Electron deficient molecules : Eg: BF3, BCl3, BBr3, BI3, AlCl3, GaCl3 etc. BF3 < BCl3 < BBr3 < BI3
BF3 + F [F3B F] or BF4

3) Molecules which can extend octet configuration: Eg: SiF4 , SiCl4, SnCl4, SF4, SFCl4, TeCl4 etc.
F F | SiF4 + 2 F F S F | F F
2

2 or SiF6

4) Molecules with multiple bonds in between atoms of different electronegativities

4

Acids and Bases

Eg : CO2, SO2, SO3, NO2, N2O5, Cl2O7, P2O5

O = C = O + OH O = C O or HCO3 OH +

5) Molecules in which the central atom with sextet configuration Eg : S, O, Se..

O + SO 2 O S O 3
| O O ||

S + SO 2 S O 2 3 2 3

Types of Lewis bases : All simple anions : Eg : Cl, P , Br , OH, CN etc.

SiCl4 + 2Cl SiCl2 6

Molecules with lone pairs : Eg : N H3 , P H3 , N2 H4 , R N H2 , R O H, H2 O ,

R O R, R 2 S etc.

N H3 + H+ [H3N H]+ or NH+ 4

Molecular multiple bonds in between similar atoms: Eg: CH2 = CH2 , CH CH, pyridine , : NO, : CO
H 2 C CH 2 CH2 = CH2 + Ag Ag
+

Draw backs of Lewis theory :

1) It will not consider popular acids like HClO4, HNO3, H2SO4 as they do not form co-ordinate covalent bond. 2) It fails to explain the catalytic activity of H+. 3) Lewis acid base neutralisation is very slow as it involves formation of co-ordinate covalent bond but actually neutralisation reactions are very fast. 4) It fails to explain strength of acids and bases. 5) It fails to explain the simple neutralisation reactions where H+ is involved.
IONISATION OF ACIDS AND BASES AND DEGREE OF IONISATION

Acids which donate protons are generally known as protonic acids. These are represented as HX The compounds which contain OH- ions are generally known as bases and represented by BOH When acids are dissolved in water, they ionised into H+ and X2 HX H++X-

H O

When bases are dissolved in water they ionised into B+ and OHBOHH 2O B+

This process in known as ionisation same time referred to as dissociation 5

Acids and Bases

The extent of hydrolysis is more for strong acids and strong bases ( 100% ionisation) The extent of hydrolysis is less for weak acids and weak bases The process of ionisation is an equilibrium process
2 H ++ X- ---------(1) HX

H O

2 B++OH--------(2) BOH

H O

The dissociation constant of acid Ka =

[ H + ][ X ] (based on the equation(1)) [ HX ]

The dissociation constant of base or base ionisation constant Kb =

[ B + ][OH ] (based on the equation(2)) [ BOH ]

For any weak acid:

H+ + XHX
C( 1Ka= 1. 2. 3. 4.

)C C 2 2 C (1 )

Ka = C 2 = Ka / C
+ H = C

+ H = Ka C 1 Ka 1 H 5. P = P log C 2 2

= degree of ionization of acid

C = molar concentration of acid Ka = ionisation constant of acid For any weak base: 1. 2.

K b = C 2
= Kb / C

3. OH = C

OH 4.
5. P
OH

= Kb C

= degree of ionisation of base

C = molar concentration of base Kb = ionisation constant of base
6

1 Kb 1 P log C 2 2 H OH 6. P = 14 P =

Acids and Bases

Comparison of acid base theories :

1) All Arrhenius acids are bronsted lowery acids but all bronsted lowery bases are not Arrhenius bases. Eg: HCl(aq) It is Arrhenius acid as it gives H+ and bronsted lowery acid as it donates proton. NH3 It is bronsted lowery base because it accepts proton but it is not Arrhenius base as it will not give OH. 2) All bronsted lowery bases are Lewis base but Lewis acids need not be bronsted lowery acids. Eg: N H3 It is Bronsted lowery base because it accepts proton and it is Lewis base because it donates e- pair. BF3 It is Lewis acid as it accepts electron pair but it is not bronsted lowery acid as it will not donate proton.
Ionic product of water :

Pure water is weak electrolyte that is just one molecule out of 556 millions of water molecules will ionise. Ionisation of water : H2O H+ + OH (or) 2H2O H3O + + OH By applying law of mass action to the above ionisation reaction.
K= [H 3 O + ] [OH ] [H + ] [OH ] (or) [H 2 O] [H 2 O] 2

since the molar concentration of [H2O] is practically a constant and therefore K or K = [H+] [OH] K ionic product of water. K is defined as the product of molar concentration of H+ and OH ions. At 250C, K = 1 10-14 mol2 / lit2. with an increase in temperature the value of k increase as the extent of ionisation of water increases At a given temperature the value of K remains constant for any given dilute aqueous solution. i.e. neutral (or) acidic (or) basic. In pure water (or) neutral aqueous solution. [H+] =[OH] = 107 mol/lit [H+] = 107 mol/lit [OH] = 107 mol / lit K = 1 x 1014 mol/ lit In acidic solution : [H+] > [OH] [H+] > 107 [OH] < 107 K = 1014 In basic solution [OH] > 107 [H+] < 107 K = 1014 At 900C the concentration of H3O+ ions is 106 mole/ lit in pure water. The value of Kw is
7

Acids and Bases

Pure H2O [H3O ] = [OH ]

+

1 x 106 = 1 x 106 Kw = 1 x 1012 mol2 / lit2 pH of solutions: It was introduced by Sorensen to calculate lower concentrations of H+ ion. pH is ve logarithm of H+ ion concentration. pH is logarithmic reciprocal of H+ ion concentration. PH is the negative power rised on ten in order to express H+ ion concentration. pH = log[H+] 1 pH = log + [H ] [H+] = 10pH Even OH ion concentration can be expressed on pH scale. pOH = log(OH) [OH] = 10 P
OH

For any dilute solution; [H+] [OH]= 1014 mol2/ litre2

H OH PK w = p + p = 14 Other similar expressions: p OH = log[OH ]

Similarly
pk a = log k a pk b = log k b pk = log k pk = log k
p M = log[M + ]

M+ metal ion concentration

acids bases pH scale 1 7 14

neutral The maximum concentration of H+ ion that could be expressed on pH scale is 0.1 M. When [H+] = 0.1; pH = 1. If [H+] = more than 0.1 pH is less than 1 [no provision for less than 1 on scale] The maximum concentration of OH ion that could be expressed on pH scale is 1M. When [OH] =1M; pOH = 0; pH = 14 if [OH] = more than 1M; pOH < 0 and pH > 14 [no provision for more than 14 on pH scale] PH scale is applicable for dilute solutions. With increase in the concentration of [H+], pH value decreases, pOH value increases. With increase in the [OH] the pH value increases, and pOH value decreases. With increase in temperature pH value decreases. At higher temperature, the extent of ionisation increases and H+ ion concentration increases. There fore pH value decreases. Similarly OH ion concentration also increases and pOH decreases and thus the entire pH scale contracts. If [H+] ion concentration is increased by 10n times pH value decreases by n units. If [H+] ion concentration is decreased by 10n times pH value increases by n units. If acid solution is diluted by 10n times, pH value increases by n units.
8

Acids and Bases

If basic solution is diluted by 10 times, p value decreases by n units.

PH of weak acids and weak bases :

Ionisation of weak acid(HA) : HA H+ + A C00 C C C C C.C 2C 2 = = Ka C C (1 ) = C ( is very less) Ka = 2C; 2 = Ka / C

=
Ka 1 = K a .V = = v C c

Ostwalds law of dilution explains the variation of degree of ionisation with concentration. The degree of ionisation is inversely proportional to its square root of its concentration (or) directly proportional to square root of its dilution. [H+] = C [H+] = C
ka ; [H+] = C K a .C

K a .C

log [H+] = log log[H+] =

1 1 log K a + log C 2 2

Ostwalds law of dilution is applicable for weak electrolytes (weak acid and weak base) it is not applicable to strong electrolytes because they completely ionise at moderate concentration. The behaviour of strong electrolytes is explained by Debye Huckels theory. 1 1 log [H+] = log k a log C 2 2 1 1 pH = pk a log C 2 2
Ionisation of weak bases (MOH) :

MOH C

M+ + OH 00

(C C) C C C x C Kb = C C
Kb =

2C ( is very less) (1 ) 2 =
Kb C

K b = 2C ; = Kb C

1 = K b. v = v c
Kb C

[OH ] = C = C

[OH ] = K b .C
log[OH] = 1 1 log K b log C 2 2

Acids and Bases

1 1 p OH = p K b log C 2 2 pH = K w pOH pH = k w 1 Kb 1 p + log C 2 2

For weak acids :

[H + ] = C ; [H + ] = K a. C = a C

For weak bases :

[OH ] = C ; [OH ] = K b .C

Kb C

For strong acids ; [H+] = N of acid For weak acids ; [H+] < N of acid For strong bases; [OH] = N of base For weak bases; [OH] < N of base
Buffers : The solutions which maintain constant pH value on addition of acid or base.

Resisting change in pH value on adding acid or base to a buffer is called Buffer action. Buffers posses reserve acidity and reserve alkality. Reserve acidity will nullify the effect of added base and reserve basicity will nullify the effect of added acid. Blood buffer is H2CO3 + NaHCO3.
Types of buffers:

1) Acid buffers: It is the mixture of weak acid and its salt of strong base. CH3COOH + CH3COONa H2CO3 + NaHCO3 Tetra boric acid + Borax [pH > 7] H3PO4 + NaH2PO4 The pH of acid buffers is usually less than 7 but not always. 2) Basic buffers: It is mixture of weak base and its salt of strong acid. NH4 OH + NH4Cl Glycine + Glycine hydro chloride 3) Normal salt of weak acid and its acidic salt Na2CO3 + NaH CO3 Na3PO4 + Na2HPO4 4) Salt of weak acid and weak base Eg : CH3COONH4 ; HCOONH4 5) Ampholytes Amino acids proteins : Which of the following can act as buffer
Action of Acid buffers:

Eg : CH3COOH + CH3COONa Acetic acid mostly remains as unionised and sodium acetate is almost completely ionised. Therefore the components present in the above buffer are
10

Acids and Bases

(CH3COOH+CH3COO + Na ) If little strong acid (H+) is added to the above buffer, the added strong acid will convert into weak acid. Thus the effect is nullified. CH3COO + H+ CH3COOH If little strong base (OH) is added to buffer, the added strong base is converted into water (H2O). Thus the effect of added base is nullified. CH3COOH + H CH3COO + H2O Thus acid buffer can resist change in pH on addition of little amount of acid or little amount of base. In the above buffer the reserve acidity is due to CH3COOH and reserve basisity is due to CH3COO.
Action of Basic buffer :

Eg : NH4OH + NH4Cl NH4OH ionizes to very small extent and NH4Cl being a salt ionizes completely. Therefore the
components present in the above buffer are [NH4OH + NH+ 4 + Cl ]

The reserve acidity of the above buffer is due to NH+ 4 and reserve bascity is due to NH4OH. If strong acid [H+] is added to buffer, it is converted into H2O H+ + NH4OH NH+ 4 + H2O If strong base [OH] is added to buffer, it will convert into weak base
NH+ 4 + OH NH4OH

Thus an acid buffer or a basic buffer can maintain constant pH value by adding acid as well as base. PH of Buffers : [Hendersons equation] Deriving pH expression for Acid buffer : HA H+ + A
(weak acid)

Ka = [H+ ] =

[H + ][ A ] [HA ] K a [HA ] [A ]

Acid [A ] = K a Salt

[ most of the A concentration comes from salt ] By applying log on both sides. Acid log[H + ] = log K a log salt Acid p H = p K a log salt salt p H = p K a + log acid Deriving pH expression for basic buffer : BOH B+ + OH
(weak base)

Kb =

[B + ] [OH ] [BOH]
11

[OH ] = K b

[BOH] [B + ]

Acids and Bases

base [OH ] = K b salt

[ most of the B+ concentration come from salt] By applying log on both sides base log[OH] = log K b log salt base pOH = pK b log salt salt pOH = pK b + log base
pH = 14 pOH

salt pH = pK pK b log base

salt p H = p K a + log acid salt p OH = p K b + log base [Henderson' s equation]

Buffer capacity :

It is the capacity of a buffer to resist change in pH by adding acid or base. A good buffer shows only a slight change in pH on addition of acid or base. Buffer capacity is defined as the number of moles of acid or base added per litre of buffer to cause the change in its pH by one unit (or) Buffer capacity is the ratio of number of moles of acid or base added per litre of buffer to the change in pH Buffer capacity =
no.of mole of acid or base added per litre of buffer change in p H

pH range of buffer : It is the range of pH values where a buffer can effectively resist the change in pH on adding acid or base. For an acid buffer the pH range.
pH = pK a 1

For example PK a of CH3COOH + CH3COONa buffer is 4.5. Therefore it functions effectively between pH values 3.5 and 5.5. The pH range of basic buffer.
pOH = pK b 1

Buffer capacity will maximum if pH=pKa:[salt] =[acid] Buffer capacity will be more if the components are taken in higher concentrations. Any buffer has a definite pH values. The pH of buffer does not change on long standing. The pH of buffer does not change on dilution.
12

Acids and Bases Applications of buffers :

1) Buffers are used in various chemical industries 2) Buffers are used in various enzyme catalyses reaction. 3) used in softening of hard water. 4) used in various research programmes. 5) used in chemical analysis. [precipitation of radicals]
Salt of Hydrolysis :
neutralisation

Acid + base
salt hydrolysis

salt + H2O

Salt hydrolysis is endothermic because t is reverse of neutralisation. The reaction of the salt with water to produce acid or base or both is called salt hydrolysis. Salt hydrolysis is of three types.
1) Cationic hydrolysis : Cation of the salt reacts with water to produce H+ ions.

Eg: NH4Cl, NH4NO3, [NH4]2SO4 , AlCl3 etc. In these salts cation is stronger because it is the conjugate of weak base therefore they undergo cationic hydrolysis.
+ + Eg: NH+ 4 Cl : NH4 + H2 O NH4OH + H

2) Anionic Hydrolysis : Anion of the salt reacts with water to produce OH.

Eg: CH3COONa, HCOOK, Na2CO3, etc. In these salts anion is stronger as it is the conjugate of weak acid. Eg: CH3COONa+ : CH3COO + H2O CH3COOH + OH
3) Cationic and Anionic hydrolysis : Both cation and anion of the salt react with water to produce H+ and OH ions. Therefore the solution is neutral.

Eg: CH3COONH4, HCOONH4, Al(CH3COO)3 In these salts both cation and anion are stronger because they are the conjugates of weak base and weak acid respectively. Eg: CH3COO NH + 4: CH3OO + H2O CH3COOH + OH
+ NH + 4 + H2O NH4OH + H

there are four types of salts depending on the nature of acid and base involved in the titrations.
Salt of strong acid and weak base :

Eg: NH4Cl, NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4, AlCl3 , MgCl2, Al2(SO4)3 etc, These salts undergo cationic hydrolysis to produce H+ ions. Their aqueous solution is acidic and pH is less than 7. Their aqueous solution will turn blue litmus to red and they can be used for titrating against bases.
+ Eg: NH4 Cl
+ Hydrolysis : NH+ 4 +H2O NH4OH + H

K=

[NH4OH] [H+ ] [NH+ 4 ] [H2O] [NH 4 OH] [H + ] [NH + 4]

K.[H 2 O] =

13

Acids and Bases

Kh = [NH4OH][H ] [NH+ 4]
+

Ionisation of
NH4OH : NH4OH NH+ 4 +OH

Kb =

[NH + 4 ][OH ] [NH 4 OH]

Ion product of water = k = [H+] [OH]

K w [H+ ] [OH ] [NH4OH] = Kb [NH+ 4 ] [OH ] Kh = Kw Kb

The degree of hydrolysis of the salt is inversely proportional to the square root of its molar concentration.
= Kb C Kw K b .C

[H+] = C [H+] = C [H+] =

Kw K b .C K w .C Kb

Appling log on both sides 1 1 1 log[H + ] = log K w log C + log K b 2 2 2 1 Kw 1 K b 1 H p = p p log C 2 2 2

Salt of weak acid and strong base :

Eg: CH3COONa, HCOOK, Na2CO3, NaHCO3, Na3PO4, Na2HPO4, KCN etc. Anionic hydrolysis : CH3COONa CH3COO + H2O CH3COOH + OH
K= [CH3COOH] [OH ] [CH3OO ] [H2O] [CH3COOH] [OH ] [CH3COO ]

K[H2O] = Kh =

[CH3COOH] [OH ] [CH3COO ]

Ionisation of CH3COOH : CH3COOH CH3COO + H+

Ka = [CH3COO ] [H+ ] [CH3COOH]

ionic product of water : Kw = [H+] [OH]

[H + ] [OH ] [CH 3 COOH] Kw = Ka [CH 3 COO ] [H + ]

14

Acids and Bases

K Kh = w Ka

The degree o hydrolysis of these salts is also inversely proportional to the square root of its concentration.
=

kh C

kw k a .C K w .C Ka

[OH ] = C

Kw K a .C

applying log on both sides 1 1 1 log[OH ] = log K w + log K a log C 2 2 2 1 1 1 pOH = pK w pK a log C 2 2 2 aqueous solution of these salts are basic they undergo anionic hydrolysis because the anion of the salt is stronger as it is the conjugate of weak acid. [OH] is produced and solution is basic.
Salt of weak acid and weak base :

Eg: CH3COONH4, HCOONH4, NH4CN, Al(CH3COO)3 etc The aqueous solution of these salts is all most neutral and pH is all most equal to 7. The nature of the salt solution actually depends on Ka and Kb values of acid and base. i) If Ka = Kb, solution is exactly neutral. Eg: CH3COONH4 Ka of CH3COOH = Kb of NH4OH ii) If Ka > Kb, solution is acidic Eg: HCOONH4 Ka of HCOOH > Kb of NH4OH iii) If Ka < Kb, solution is basic Eg: Mg(CN)2 Kb of Mg(CN)2 > Ka of HCN These salts will undergo both cationic and anionic hydrolysis to produce both H+ and OH ions. Eg: CH3COONH4 CH3COO + H2O CH3COOH + OH
+ NH+ 4 + H2O NH4 OH + H

K=

[CH 3 COOH] [NH 4 OH] [H + ] [OH ]

+ [CH 3 COO ] [NH 4 ] [H 2 O] 2

K[H 2 O] 2 = Kh =

[CH 3 COOH] [NH 4 OH] [H + ] [OH ] [CH 3 COO ] [NH + 4] [CH 3 COO ] [NH + 4]

[CH 3 COOH] [NH 4 OH] [H + ] [OH ]

The [H+] = [OH] they get cancelled mutually

Kh = [CH 3 COOH] [NH 4 OH] [CH 3 COO ] [NH + 4]

15

Acids and Bases

ionic product of water Kw = [H ] [OH ] Ka =

Kb = [CH 3 COO ] [H + ] [CH 3 COOH]
+ [NH 4 ] [OH ] [NH 4 OH]

[H + ][OH ] [CH 3 COOH][NH 4 OH] Kw = K a .k b [CH 3 COO ] [H + ] [NH + 4 ] [OH ]

[CH3 COOH] [NH 4 OH] K = K a .k b [CH3 COO ] [NH + 4]

Kb = Kw K a .K b

The degree of hydrolysis [] is independent of concentration of the salt because both cation and anion of the salt are stronger as they are conjugate of weak base and weak acid respectively. = Kh
Kw K a .K b Kw K a .K b K w .K a Kb

[H + ] = K a . K a

apply - log on both sides 1 1 1 log[H + ] = log K a log K a + log K b 2 2 2 1 1 1 pH = pK w + pK a pK b 2 2 2 . [OH ] = Kb = Kb

kw = k a .k b k w kb ka

apply log on both sides 1 1 1 1 1 1 log[OH ] = log k w log k b + log k a p OH = p kw + p k b p k a 2 2 2 2 2 2

Salt of strong acid and strong base :

Eg: NaCl, KNO3, Na2SO4, BaCl2, NaClO4, Ba(NO3)2, Sr.(NO3)2 etc. These salts do not undergo hydrolysis because both anion and cation are weak as they are conjugates of strong acid and strong base respectively.
Solubility Product : - ( K SP )

Therefore their aqueous solutions are exactly neutral and pH is exactly.

It is the product of the molar concentration of its ions in a saturated solution of electrolyte.

K SP for a salt changes with temperature

Solubility product of a sparingly soluble salt is given by xA+ y + yB x Ax By

K y +y x = A . B x SP
x y

Ksp = [ xs ] [ ys ]

16

Acids and Bases

1)

If solubility is known K SP can be calculated (or) vice versa.

APPLICATIONS :

The concept of solubility product helps the formation of a precipitate. a) Ionic product < K SP , no ppt is formed (unsaturated solution) b) Ionic product > K SP , a ppt is formed (super saturated solution) c) Ionic product = K SP , solution is saturated

2) 3) 4) 5)

In predicting the solubility of a sparingly soluble salt. In qualitative analysis, the seperation and identifi cation of various basic radicals into different groups. In purification of common salts. In salting out of soap. For binary salts like AgCl , AgBr solubility S can be calculated as S =

K SP

For ternary salt like PbCl2 , Mg ( OH )2 , Ag 2CrO4

K SP K (or) S = SP S= 4 4 2 For salt K SP = s :
3

1/3

AB2 salt K SP = 4 S 3 : AB3 salt K SP = 27S4 A3 B2 salt K SP = 108S 5 ;Where S=Solubility

COMMON ION EFFECT :The suppression of the dissociation of a weak electrolyte by the addition of strong electrolyte having common ion is called common ion effect. Ex : - A solution of Sodium Aectate is added to solution of Acetic acid as a result in the decrease in

ionization of acetic acid due to common ion is CH 3COO

CH COO + H + CH COOH 3 3 CH COONa CH COO + Na + 3 3

common ions 3.
+ H According to Lechatlier principle H , decreases P is increases and equilibrium shifts to left hand

side.
APPLICATIONS : -

1) 2)

It is used in the controlling the H

2

ion concentration in Buffer solution.

The concentration of S in the II Group or OH in III group of qualitative Analysis is controlled by HCl and NH 4OH on the basis of common ion effect. Common ion effect is also used in the purification of common salt by passing dry HCl gas into impure salt solution

3)

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