SCH 4U/G Name:

Acid-Base Unit Review Questions

1) Determine the pH, pOH, and [OH-1] in each of the following solutions:
a) Lemon juice, [H3O+1] = 5 X 10-3 mole/L
- ph= -log (5 X 10-3 ) = 2.3
-pOH=14 – 2.3 = 11.7
-OH = 10^-11.7 =2.0x10^-12

b) Milk, [H3O+1] = 3 X 10-7 mole/L

c) Seawater, [H3O+1] = 3 X 10-9 mole/L
2) Benzoic acid, C6H5COOH, is an organic acid whose sodium salt, C6H5COONa, has long been used as a
safe food additive to protect beverages and many foods against harmful yeasts and bacteria. The acid is
monoprotic. Write the equation for the Ka of the acid.
- C6H5COOH + H2O → C6H5COO - + H3O+
Ka = [H3O+][C6H5COO -]/[C6H5COOH]

3) What is the percent ionization of a 0.15 M solution of HF? What is the pH of this ionization? (6.63%)
- the percent ionization of HF= (amount of acid ionized/total amount of solute) x100%
-

HF F- H3O+
initial 0.15 0 0
change -x +x +x
equilibrium 0.15 x x
6.7x10 = x /0.15
-4 2

x = 0.01
percent ionization = (0.01/0.15)x100%
percent ionization = 6.68%
4) Periodic acid, HIO4, is an important oxidizing agent and a moderately strong acid.  In a 0.100 M
solution, [H3O+1] = 3.8 X 10-2 mole/L. Calculate the Ka and pKa for periodic acid. (2.2 X 10-2 M; 1.65)

HIO4 IO4- H3O+

initial 0.100 0 0
change -x +x +x
equilibrium 0.100 3.8x10 -2
3.8x10-2
Ka = (3.8x10-2)2/0.100
ka = 0.01444
pKa = -log(0.01444) = 1.84

5) Para-aminobenzoic acid, PABA, is a powerful sun screening agent whose salts are used widely in sun
tanning and screening lotions.  The parent acid which we may symbolize as H-Paba, is a weak acid
with a pKa of 4.92 at 25oC.  What will be the [H3O+1] and pH of a 0.030 M solution of this acid? (6.01 X
10-4 M; 3.22)
SCH 4U/G Name:

- pKa = 4.92
Ka = 10-4.92
H-Paba + H2O –> PABA + H3O+
Ka = [PABA][H3O+]/[PABA]

H-Paba PABA H3O

initial 0.030 0 0
change -x +x +x
equilibrium 0.030 x x
1.202x10 = x /0.030
-5 2

x = 6.0x10-4 = [H3O]
pH = -log ( 6.0x10-4) = 3.22
6) Ethylamine, CH3CH2NH2, has a strong pungent odour similar to that of ammonia.  Like ammonia, it is
a Bronsted base.  A 0.10 M solution has a pH of 11.86.  Calculate the Kb and pKb for the ethylamine,
and find the pKa for its conjugate acid, CH3CH2NH3+1 (5.94 X 10-4 M; 3.28; 10.75)
- pH = 11.86
pOH = 2.14
[OH]= 10-2.14 = 7.24x10-3

CH3CH2NH2 CH3CH2NH- OH-

initial 0.10 0 0
change -x +x +x
equilibrium 0.0927 7.24x10-3 7.24x10-3

Kb = (7.24x10-3)2/0.0927 = 5.65x10-4
pKb = -log (5.65x10-4) = 3.25
pKa = 14 – 3.25 = 10.75
7) A sample of blood was found to have a [H3O+1] = 4.6 X 10-8 M.  Find the molar concentration of OH-1,
and decide if the sample was acidic, basic, or neutral. ([OH-] = 2.2 X 10-7; basic)
- Kw = [OH][H3O]
[OH] = 1.0x10-14/4.6x10-8
[OH] = 2.17x10-7 > [H3O]
therefore, the solution was basic.
8) Butanoic acid (butyric acid), C3H7COOH, is found in small quantities in human perspiration and is
responsible for the foul odour often associated with locker rooms. The acid is also produced when
butter becomes rancid.  A 0.0010 mole/L solution of butanoic acid has a pH of 3.91 at 25oC. Calculate
the acid dissociation constant of butanoic acid. (1.73 X 10-5 M)
- [H3O]= 10-3.91 = 1.2x10-4

C3H7COOH C3H7COO- H3O+

initial 0.0010 0 0
SCH 4U/G Name:

change -x +x +x
equilibrium 8.77x10-4 1.2x10-4
1.2x10-4

Ka = [1.2x10-4]2/[8.77x10-4]
Ka = 1.64x10-5
9) How many grams of sodium formate, NaCHO2, would have to be dissolved in 1.00 L of 0.120 M
formic acid (pKa = 3.75) to make the solution a buffer for pH 3.80? (9.3 g)
pH = pKa + log [Base/ acid]
3.8 = 3.75 + log [CHO2] -log(0.120)
log[CHO2] = 3.80-3.75-0.921
[CHO2] = 0.134 M
m = cVMm
m = (0.134)(1.00)(68.01)
m = 9.11 g

10) What ratio of molar concentrations of NH4Cl and NH3 would buffer a solution at pH 9.25? ([NH4+] =
[NH3])
- the reaction: NH3 + H3O → NH4 + OH
pOH = 14-9.25 = 4.75

- [OH] = 10-4.75= 1.778 x 10-5 M

NH3 NH4 OH
I 1.00 y 0
C -x +x +x
E 1.00 y x= 1.778x10-5 M
Kb = (1.78x10 )y/1.00
-5

1.8x10-5 = (1.78x10-5)y/1.00
y = 1.01
pkb= -log(1.8x10-5 )
= 4.7447
pka = 14-pkb
= 9.3
pH = pka + log [NH3]/[NH4]
log [NH3]/[NH4] = pH-Pka
log [NH3]/[NH4] = 9.25-9.3
SCH 4U/G Name:

[NH3]/[NH4] = 10-0.05
= 0.89
What ratio of molar concentrations of NH4Cl and NH3 would buffer a solution at pH 9.25? ([NH4+] =
[NH3])
pH= 9.25
[H+] = 5.6234x10-10
NH4 + H2O --> NH3 + H3O
nh4 nh3 H3O
initial 1.00 y 0
change -x +x +x
Equilibrium 1.00 y 5.6234x10-10

Ka = 5.6234x10-10 (y)/ 1.00

5.8x10-10 = 5.6234x10-10 (y)/ 1.00
y = 1.03

pH = pka +log [NH3]/[NH4]

11) To study the effect of a weakly acidic medium on the rate of corrosion of a metal, a chemist prepared a
buffer solution by making it 0.110 M NaC2H3O2 and also 0.0900 M HC2H3O2. What is the pH of this
solution? (pH = 4.8)
- Ka = 1.8 x 10-5
- pKa = -log (1.8 x 10-5) = 4.74
- pH = pKa + log [Base]/[acid]
pH = 4.74 + log (0.110)/(0.0900)
pH = 4.83