Drew Patti

CHM/110: Introductory Chemistry

Professor Gurley

February 2, 2020

Acid-Base Solutions Simulation

In this week’s simulation, we took a look at the differences in initial concentration,

strength, pH, molecules and molecular reactions in acids and bases in a solution. The starting

initial concentration sets the pH at 4.50 for the acid, and 9.50 for the base. Water will be the

solvent for both solutes (acid and base). Throughout the examination and review of the

simulation, the acid will be referred to as HA and the base will be referred to as B.

We’ll start by looking at the reactions for acids. In raising the initial concentration from

0.01 mol/L to 1 mol/L, the pH lowered from 4.50 to 3.50 and there was an increase of HA in the

solution. In lowering the initial concentration from 0.01 mol/L to 0.001 mol/L, the pH increased

from 4.50 to 5.00 and there was a decrease of HA in the solution. Setting the initial concentration

back to 0.01 mol/L with a pH of 4.50, increasing the strength lowered the amount of HA in the

solution drastically and increased both the A- and the H3O+, as well as lowering the pH to 2.00

at its strongest point. At its weakest point, the solution contained mostly HA, drastically

lowering the amount of A- and H3O+, as well as raising the pH to 6.00.

Switching gears to the base, the pH at the starting initial concentration of 0.01 mol/L is a

pH of 9.50. In raising the initial concentration from 0.01 mol/L to 1 mol/L, the pH increased

from 9.50 to 10.50 and the amount of B in the solution increased. Lowering the initial

concentration from 0.01 mol/L to 0.001 mol/L brought the pH down from 9.50 to 9.00 and it

decreased the amount of B in solution. Resetting the initial concentration back to 0.01 mol/L
with the pH at 9.50, increasing the strength drastically reduced the amount of B in the solution,

increasing both the BH+ and the OH- as well as raising the pH to 12.00 at its strongest point. At

its weakest point, the solution was mostly full of B, with a drastic loss of both BH+ and OH- and

lowering the pH to 8.00. The only equilibrium experienced throughout the entire simulation is

that through every change in both the acid and base, both the A- and the H3O+ and the BH+ and

the OH-, respectively, increased and decreased while maintaining an equilibrium with one

another.