ACIDS AND BASES

The pH scale
• The pH scale tells you whether a solution is acidic or
basic.
• Acids have a pH lower than seven.
• Bases have a pH greater than seven.
• Neutral substances have a pH of seven.
Properties of acids
• An acid is a compound that dissolves in water to
make a solution that contains more H+ ions than
there are in pure water. Some properties of acids
are listed below.
• Acids have a pH smaller than 7.
• Acids create the sour taste in food, such as lemons.
• Acids react with metals to produce hydrogen gas (H2).
• Acids react with bases to produce a salt and water.
• Acids can corrode metals and burn skin through chemical
action.
• Acids are conductive.
• Acids turn blue litmus paper red.
Properties of bases
• A base is a compound that dissolves in water to make
a solution with more hydroxide, OH- ions than there
are in pure water.
• Bases have a pH greater than 7.
• Bases create a bitter taste.
• Bases react with acids to produce a salt and water.
• Bases can corrode metals and burn skin through
chemical action.
• Bases have a slippery feel, like soap.
• Bases can neutralize acids.
• Bases are conductive.
• Bases turn red litmus paper blue.
Arrhenius acids and bases
• An Arrhenius acid is a substance that produces
hydrogen ions, H+ in water.
HBr(g) → H+(aq) + Br-(aq)
• An Arrhenius base is a substance that
produces hydroxide ions, OH- in water.
KOH(s) → K+(aq) + OH-(aq)
• When an Arrhenius acid is combined with a Arrhenius
base they produce water and a salt.

HBr + KOH → H2O + KBr

Acid Base Water Salt
Neutral and acidic solutions
• In a neutral solution, the concentrations of H+ and OH- are equal.
When a H+ ion and an OH- ion react, they form a water molecule.
• Example: water (H20)
• An acidic solution is a solution that contains more H+ ions than OH-
ions.
• Example: acetic acid (CH3COOH)
Bases
• A base is a substance that dissolves to produce a
solution with more OH- ions than H+ ions.
• Example: sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
• Group I or II metals dissolve in water to make a base.
The family names for group I and II are alkali and
alkaline earth metals respectively.
• The word alkaline means "base".
The significance of the H+ ion
• The H+ ion is a proton.
• It is very reactive.
• Every aqueous H+ ion attaches
to a H2O molecule and forms
H3O+.
• H3O+ is called hydronium.
• For aqueous calculations, H+
and hydronium are
synonymous.
Weak and strong acids and bases
• Strong acids and Strong bases fully dissociate in
water.
• Weak acids and Weak bases slightly dissociate in
water.
• Weak acids and bases have equilibrium constants.

Ka or Kb
[Products]
=
[Reactants]
 Formulas for acids
• The formula for an acid depends on the anion name, according to the
following rules:
Hydrogen + anion that ends in −ate: (ion minus ending) ic acid
• Example: HNO3 = nitric acid
• Hydrogen + anion that ends in −ite: (ion minus ending) ous acid
• Example: HNO2 = nitrous acid
• Hydrogen + anion that ends in −ide: hydro (ion minus ending) ic acid
• Example: H2S = hydrosulfuric acid

• How to name an acid

based on its formula:
Brønsted-Lowry acids and bases
• A Brønsted-Lowry base accepts protons.
• A Brønsted-Lowry acid donates protons.
Conjugate acid-base pairs
• Brønsted-Lowry acids and bases are always in pairs
called conjugate acid-base pairs.

• In the example above, water and NH3 are

conjugate acid-base pairs. NH3 is accepting a
proton from water.
Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs
Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs
Acids
a. HClO
b. C6H5COOH

Bases
a. F-
b. HSO3-