Acid-Base Equilibrium__ 20 20:1 Theories and Properties Several definitions have been proposed for acids and bases. De- pending upon the situation, each definition has its advantages and disadvantages. Three acid-base theories are: Arrhenius, Brénsted- Lowry, and Lewis. The Arrhenius theory is the oldest approach to acid-base theory. It is adequate for most introductory chemistry concepts. The theory ex- plains acids and bases by the concept of ion formation. An acid ionizes in solution to produce hydrogen ions, H*, or more correctly hydronium ions, H,O*. Hydrochloric acid ionizes in one step. HCl + H,O —> H,O* + Cl- Sulfuric acid, a polyprotic compound, ionizes in two steps. H,SO, + H,O —> H,0* + HSO,- HSO,- + H,0 —> H,0* + S0,- A base ionizes or dissociates in solution to produce hydroxide ions, OH-. NaOH —> Na* + OH- It is the Arrhenius theory applied to aqueous (water) solutions that accounts for the characteristic properties of acids and bases. 20:2 Reactions and lonic Equations Considering the Arrhenius theory, in a neutralization reaction an acid reacts with a base to form a salt. The reaction goes to completion 472Acid-Base Equilibrium 173 since a molecular compound (water) is formed. The water is only slightly ionized. For practical purposes, the water does not react again. H,SO, + 2NaOH —> Na,SO, + 2H,0 Acid Base Salt Water The other compound formed is called a salt. Salts are crystalline solids composed of metallic ions other than hydrogen bonded to nonmetallic ions or polyatomic ions other than hydroxide. A salt contains the positive ion of a base and the negative ion of an acid. In addition tocommon salts such as NaCl and Na,SO,, another group of salts, termed acid salts, contain hydrogen, NaHSO,, sodium hydrogen sulfate; K;HPO,, potas- sium monohydrogen phosphate; KH,PO,, potassium dihydrogen phos- phate). Salts may be soluble or insoluble in water. The common solubility rules are indicated in Table 20-1. Table 20-1 Solubility Rules You will be working with water solutions, and it is helpful to have a few rules concerning what substances are soluble in water. The most common rules are listed below. 1. Allcommon salts of the Group IA elements and ammonium ion are soluble. 2. All common acetates and nitrates are soluble. 3. All binary compounds of Group VIIA elements (other than F) with metals are soluble except those of silver, mercury(I), and lead. 4. All sulfates are soluble except those of barium, strontium, lead, calcium, silver, and mercury(I). 5. Except for those in Rule 1, carbonates, hydroxides, oxides, and phos- phates are insoluble. Hydrolysis is the reaction of a salt with water. As the salt dissolves, an acidic, basic, or neutral solution forms. The type of solution formed depends upon the strength of the acid and base involved in the forma- tion of the salt. Strong acids HCl, HNO,, H,S0,, completely ionized HBr, HI, HClO, Weak acids HC,H,0,, HE, H,S0,, slightly ionized HSO,-, H;PO, Strong bases NaOH, KOH completely ionized ‘Weak base NH, slightly ionized474 — Acid-Base Equilibrium Due to hydrolysis, the solutions produced from the neutralization reac- tions may be acidic, basic or neutral as indicated: Strong acid + Strong base —> neutral solution Strong acid + Weak base —— acid solution Weak acid + Strong base —— basic solution Weak acid + Weak base —> Results depend upon the rela- tive weaknesses the acid and base used. It is customary for reactions occurring in water to be written in ionic form. Only ions actually taking part in the reaction are written. The other ions present but not involved are termed spectator ions and are not written in the net ionic equation. In writing ionic equations the following rules are observed: 1. Species occurring in molecular form are written as molecules. For example, H,0, SO,, CO,, NHy. 2. Weak electrolytes (partially ionized substances) are written in mo- lecular ‘form. 3. Strong electrolytes are written in ionic form. Soluble salts are written in ionic form; insoluble salts in molecular form. Soluble Na* + Clr, Ca?* + 2C,H,0.- Insoluble BaSO,, Ag,CrO, For example, note the steps in writing the following net ionic equations: word zine + hydrochloric acid —> zinc chloride + hydrogen balanced Zn(c) + 2HCK(aq) —> ZnCl,(aq) + H,(2) ionic Zn + 2H*+ + 2Cl- —> Zn** + 2Cl- + Hy net ionic Zn + 2H+ —> Zn** + H, aluminum , sodium aluminum , sodium ae nitrate + hydroxide ~~ hydroxide T nitrate balanced Al(NO,),(aq) + 3NaOH(aq) —> AI(OH),(c) + 3NaNO,(aq) ionic Al3+ + 3NO,;- + 3Na* + 30H™ —> Al(OH), + 3Na* + 3NO;- net ionic A+ + 30H" —> Al(OH); Problems 1. Write the net ionic equation for each word equation. a. sodium + water —> sodium hydroxide + hydrogen