Acids and Bases

17a. A student decided to determine the molecular mass of a solid monoprotic acid, HA, by titrating a
solution of a known mass of the acid.

The following recordings were made.

Determine the molecular formula of HA.

17b. To investigate the effect of temperature on the effectiveness of a buffer solution, the student placed
of the buffer solution in a water bath at 24 °C. He added small portions of hydrochloric acid,
stirring after each addition, until a total of was added, and measured the pH continuously during
the addition. The procedure was repeated at different temperatures and the results are shown in the
following graph.

State what is meant by a buffer solution.

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17c. With reference to the graph on page 4, describe the effect of increasing temperature on the
effectiveness of the buffer solution.

18a. A solution of a weak monoprotic acid, HA(aq), is titrated with sodium

hydroxide, NaOH(aq), and the following graph is obtained.

Determine the pH at the equivalence point.

18b. Explain, using an equation, why the equivalence point is not at .

18c. Calculate the concentration of the weak acid before the addition of any NaOH(aq).

18d. Estimate, using data from the graph, the dissociation constant, , of the weak acid, HA, showing
your working.

18e. Suggest an appropriate indicator for this titration.

18f. Describe qualitatively the action of an acid-base indicator.

18g. Explain what is meant by the term buffer solution.

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18h. Calculate the pH of a solution prepared by mixing of
and of , showing your working.

18i. 0.100 mol of ammonia, , was dissolved in water to make of solution. This solution has
a hydroxide ion concentration of .

Determine the pH of the solution.

18j. Calculate the base dissociation constant, , for ammonia.

1. Which species is not a Lewis base?

A. OH−

B. NH4+

C. H2O

D. PH3

2. An indicator, HIn, has a pKa of 5.1.

HIn (aq) H+ (aq) + In− (aq)

colour A colour B

Which statement is correct?

A. At pH = 7, colour B would be observed

B. At pH = 3, colour B would be observed
C. At pH = 7, [HIn] = [In−]
D. At pH = 3, [HIn] < [In−]

3. Which statements are correct?

I. Lewis bases can act as nucleophiles.

II. Electrophiles are Lewis acids.

III. Lewis acids are electron pair acceptors.

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

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 C. II and III only

D. I, II and III

4. Which combination of acid and base is most likely to have a pH of 8.5 at the equivalence point in a
titration?

A. Hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide

B. Hydrochloric acid and ammonia

C. Nitric acid and ammonia

D. Methanoic acid and sodium hydroxide

5. Which is an example of a Lewis base?

A. an electrophile

B. BF3

C. CH4

D. a nucleophile

6. What is the order of increasing acidity?

A. HClO < CH3CH2COOH < HF < HIO3

B. HClO < HF < CH3CH2COOH < HIO3

C. HIO3 < HF < CH3CH2COOH < HClO

D. HIO3 < CH3CH2COOH < HF < HClO

7aButanoic acid, CH3CH2CH2COOH, is a weak acid and ethylamine, CH3CH2NH2, is a weak base.

State the equation for the reaction of each substance with water.

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 7d. A 0.250 mol dm−3 aqueous solution of butanoic acid has a concentration of hydrogen ions, [H+], of
0.00192 mol dm−3. Calculate the concentration of hydroxide ions, [OH−], in the solution at 298 K.

7e. Determine the pH of a 0.250 mol dm−3 aqueous solution of ethylamine at 298 K, using section 21 of the
data booklet.

7f. Sketch the pH curve for the titration of 25.0 cm3 of ethylamine aqueous solution with 50.0 cm3 of
butanoic acid aqueous solution of equal concentration. No calculations are required.

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8c. Write an equation to show ammonia, NH3, acting as a Brønsted–Lowry base and a different equation to
show it acting as a Lewis base.

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8d. Determine the pH of 0.010 mol dm−3 2,2-dimethylpropanoic acid solution.

Ka (2,2-dimethylpropanoic acid) = 9.333 × 10−6

8e. Explain, using appropriate equations, how a suitably concentrated solution formed by the partial
neutralization of 2,2-dimethylpropanoic acid with sodium hydroxide acts as a buffer solution.

9a. Graphing is an important tool in the study of rates of chemical reactions.

The graph represents the titration of 25.00 cm3 of 0.100 mol dm−3 aqueous ethanoic acid with 0.100
mol dm−3 aqueous sodium hydroxide.

Deduce the major species, other than water and sodium ions, present at points A and B during the
titration.

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9b. Calculate the pH of 0.100 mol dm−3 aqueous ethanoic acid.

Ka = 1.74 × 10−5

9c. Outline, using an equation, why sodium ethanoate is basic.

9d. Predict whether the pH of an aqueous solution of ammonium chloride will be greater than, equal to or
less than 7 at 298 K.

9e. Formulate the equation for the reaction of nitrogen dioxide, NO2, with water to form two acids.

9f. Formulate the equation for the reaction of one of the acids produced in (e)(i) with calcium carbonate.

10. Which of the following will form a buffer solution if combined in appropriate molar ratios?

A. HCl and NaCl

B. NaOH and HCOONa

C. NH4Cl and HCl

D. HCl and NH3

11. Which indicator is appropriate for the acid-base titration shown below?

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 A. Thymol blue (pKa = 1.5)
B. Methyl orange (pKa = 3.7)
C. Bromophenol blue (pKa = 4.2)
D. Phenolphthalein (pKa = 9.6)

12. A buffer is produced by mixing 20.0 cm3 of 0.10 mol dm−3 ethanoic acid, CH3COOH(aq), with 0.10 mol
dm−3 sodium hydroxide, NaOH(aq).

What is the volume of NaOH required and the pH of the buffer?

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13. Which type of bond is formed when a Lewis acid reacts with a Lewis base?

A. Covalent

B. Dipole-dipole

C. Double

D. Hydrogen

14. What is the order of increasing acidity of the following acids?

A. chloroethanoic < ethanoic < hydrogen fluoride < hydrogen cyanide

B. ethanoic < chloroethanoic < hydrogen fluoride < hydrogen cyanide

C. chloroethanoic < ethanoic < hydrogen cyanide < hydrogen fluoride

D. hydrogen cyanide < ethanoic < hydrogen fluoride < chloroethanoic

15a. Many reactions are in a state of equilibrium.

The following reaction was allowed to reach equilibrium at 761 K.

H2 (g) + I2 (g) 2HI (g) ΔHθ < 0

State the equilibrium constant expression, Kc , for this reaction.

15b. The following equilibrium concentrations in mol dm–3 were obtained at 761 K.

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 Calculate the value of the equilibrium constant at 761 K.

15c. Determine the value of ΔGθ, in kJ, for the above reaction at 761 K using section 1 of the data booklet.

15d. The pH of 0.010 mol dm–3 carbonic acid, H2CO3 (aq), is 4.17 at 25 °C.

H2CO3 (aq) + H2O (l) HCO3– (aq) + H3O+ (aq).

Calculate [H3O+] in the solution and the dissociation constant, Ka , of the acid at 25 °C.

15e. Calculate Kb for HCO3– acting as a base.

16a. Soluble acids and bases ionize in water.

A solution containing 0.510 g of an unknown monoprotic acid, HA, was titrated with 0.100 mol dm–3
NaOH(aq). 25.0 cm3 was required to reach the equivalence point.

The following curve was obtained using a pH probe.

State, giving a reason, the strength of the acid.

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16b. State a technique other than a pH titration that can be used to detect the equivalence point.

16c. Deduce the pKa for this acid.

16d. The pKa of an anthocyanin is 4.35. Determine the pH of a 1.60 × 10–3 mol dm–3 solution to two decimal
places.

19. The graph below shows the titration curve of of of hydrochloric acid with
sodium hydroxide, of concentration. The indicator methyl orange was used to determine
the equivalence point. Methyl orange has a pH range of 3.2– 4.4.

If the hydrochloric acid was replaced by ethanoic acid of the same volume and concentration, which
property of the titration would remain the same?

A. The initial pH

B. The pH at the equivalence point

C. The volume of strong base, NaOH, needed to reach the equivalence point

D. The colour of the titration mixture just before the equivalence point is reached

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