CHAPTER 7

IONIC EQUILIBRIUM
Ionic Equilibria (I)

1. How do we identify acids and bases?

Ionic Equilibria (I)

1. How do we identify acids and bases?

Bronsted-Lowry Definition

• An acid is a proton (H+) donor.

• A base is proton acceptor.
• In an acid-base reaction, the transfer of protons occurs
from an acid to a base.

Tip: It may be helpful for beginners to memorise some

common acids and bases.
Ionic Equilibria (I)

2. How do we identify conjugate acids and bases?

Ionic Equilibria (I)

2. How do we identify conjugate acids and bases?

– H+
Acid Conjugate Base
+ H+

+ H+
Base Conjugate Acid
– H+

Example:
HCl  Cl–
NH3  NH4+
Ionic Equilibria (I)

3. How do we know whether an acid/ base is

strong or weak?
Ionic Equilibria (I)

3. How do we know whether an acid/ base is

strong or weak?

Strong acids/ bases ionise completely in aqueous solution.

Weak acids/ bases ionise partially in aqueous solution.

Tip: An acid/ base can be predicted to be weak when:

• It is stated so in the question
• Ka or Kb value is given
• Degree/ percent of ionisation is given
• [H3O+] < [HA]; [OH–] < [B]
Ionic Equilibria (I)

4. How do we calculate pH of an acid/ base?

Ionic Equilibria (I)

4. How do we calculate pH of an acid/ base?

(I) Learn the important terms/ relations

• pH, pOH pH + pOH = 14

• Ka, pKa pKa + pKb = 14
• Kb, pKb
• Kw [H+][OH–] = 10-14
Ka . Kb = Kw = 10-14
Ionic Equilibria (I)

4. How do we calculate pH of an acid/ base?

(II) Determine strong or weak

Strong Acid

Strong acids ionise completely in aqueous solution.

[H3O+] = [HA]  pH = - log [HA]

Strong Base

Strong bases ionise completely in aqueous solution.

[OH-] = [B]  pOH = - log [B]
Ionic Equilibria (I)

4. How do we calculate pH of an acid/ base?

(II) Determine strong or weak

Weak Acid

Weak acids ionise partially in aqueous solution.

[H3O+] < [HA]  [H3O+] = Ka × [HA] pH = - log [H3O+]

Weak Base

Weak bases ionise partially in aqueous solution.

[OH-] < [B]  [OH–] = Kb × [B] pOH = - log [OH–]
Ionic Equilibria (II)

Salts
Ionic Equilibria (II)

5. How do we know if a salt is neutral, acidic or

basic?
Ionic Equilibria (II)

5. How do we know if a salt is neutral, acidic or

basic?

• Split the salt into its cation/ anion

• Identify acid that produced anion (add H+)
• Identify base that produced cation
• If the acid or base are both strong, the salt is neutral
Ionic Equilibria (II)

5. How do we know if a salt is neutral, acidic or

basic?

• Split the salt into its cation/ anion

• Identify acid that produced anion (add H+)
• Identify base that produced cation
• If the acid is weak, the anion hydrolyses water and
acts as a weak base  basic salt
Ionic Equilibria (II)

5. How do we know if a salt is neutral, acidic or

basic?

• Split the salt into its cation/ anion

• Identify acid that produced anion (add H+)
• Identify base that produced cation
• If the base is weak, the cation hydrolyses water and
acts as a weak acid  acidic salt
Ionic Equilibria (II)

6. How do we calculate the pH of a salt solution?

Ionic Equilibria (II)

6. How do we calculate the pH of a salt solution?

• Identify ion that hydrolyses H2O

• Write equation of the ion with H2O
• Find Ka/ Kb of the ion from Kb/ Ka of the parent acid/
base
• Find pH by treating ion as weak acid or weak base

Recall:
[H3O+] = Ka × [HA] [OH–] = Kb × [B]
Ionic Equilibria (III)

Solubility Equilibria
- sparingly soluble salts
Ionic Equilibria (III)

7. How do know if a salt is sparingly soluble?

Ionic Equilibria (III)

7. How do know if a salt is sparingly soluble?

• From O level QA knowledge.

• When Ksp is given.
• When it is stated so in the question.
Ionic Equilibria (III)

General Tips

There are mainly 2 types of question:

3. A sparingly soluble salt is dissolved in water to give a

saturated solution
e.g. CaSO4 (s) ⇌Ca2+ (aq) + SO42– (aq)

2. 2 ions are mixed to form a sparingly soluble salt.

Ca (aq) + SO42– (aq)  CaSO4 (s)
2+
e.g.
Ionic Equilibria (III)

Type 1 Questions

Ksp solubility conc. of ions

Given the value of one of the above (e.g. Ksp), find the
other 2 values (solubility and conc. of ions)
Ionic Equilibria (III)

Type 1 Questions (Strategy)

CaF2 (s) ⇌Ca2+ (aq) + 2F– (aq) solubility = x

I ? 0 0 Ksp = 4x3

C -x +x +2x [Ca2+] = x

E ? x 2x [F–] = 2x

Ksp solubility conc. of ions

Expressing each term in x can help in the interconversion.

Ionic Equilibria (III)

Type 2 Questions

Ca2+ (aq) + 2F– (aq)  ppt? Ksp = ……

Given the conc. of Ca2+ and F– and Ksp, predict whether

ppt is formed
or
Given Ksp and conc. of one ion, predict the min. conc of
the other ion that will cause precipitation.
Ionic Equilibria (III)

Type 2 Questions (Strategy)

• Identify sparingly soluble salt (look for Ksp)

• Write ionic product for salt
(same expression as for Ksp)

• Calculate ionic product and compare:

Q≤K  no ppt
Q>K  ppt