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AP Chemistry Chapter 15
Guided Reading Questions

1. Arrhenius defined acids and bases by what was in the formula. What did acids have? What did bases have?

2. How is the Bronsted theory different?

a. How does this theory define acids?

b. How does this theory define bases?

c. What is a conjugate acid-base pair?

3. Since these reactions are reversible, we find acids and bases in both the forward and the reverse reaction. What
are the acid and base products in the forward reaction called?

a. Write the reaction for ammonia plus water, and show the acid and base for each direction.

4. Why can water behave as both an acid and a base?

a. Write the equation for auto-ionization of water.

5. In a solution, if the H+ and OH- are equal, is the solution acidic, basic, or neutral?

a. What number does the multiplication of the ion concentrations of H+ and OH- in water equal?

b. What is this number called?

 c. Write the equation.

d. What is the value of Kw at 25 degrees Celsius.

- Explain why stating the temperature is important.

6. Write the equation for pH. What does the p in pH stand for?

7. How do you determine the number of significant figures to use in a calculated pH?

8. If you have a base, what equation must you use to find the pH? How can you change to a pH scale from a

pOH scale?

9. In pH scales, low numbers below seven are___________, seven is__________ and numbers above seven
are__________. In other words, a high pH is a_________ and a low pH is a_________.

10. Fill in the following by showing how to change from one value to another.

H+ OH-

pH pOH

11. What is the difference between a strong acid and a weak acid?

a. Name six strong acids.

12. What is the difference between a strong base and a weak base?

a. Name the strong bases.

13. If an acid is strong what is its conjugate base?

a. If an acid is weak what is its conjugate base?

b. Give the rules for bases using the same pattern.

14. What is Ka?

15. Why do we have to use Ka to find the pHs of weak acids?

16. Write the equation and equilibrium expression for HF.

a. What is “ICE”, and how is it used to substitute into the Ka expression?

b. Calculate the pH of 0.50 M HF using “ICE”.

c. When can the –x value be dropped to avoid the quadratic equation?

d. How do you check to make sure the –x could be dropped?

17. What is percent ionization?

 a. Given a 3.10 percent ionized 0.50 M weak acid HA, calculate its Ka value and its pH.

18. Why does the pH of any acid change as more water is added?

19. What is Kb?

a. Write the equation for ammonia added to water and the equilibrium expression.

b. Using ice, solve the pH of a 0.50 M solution of NH3.

c. How do you know to use Kb?

20. What is the relationship between Ka of an acid and the Kb of its conjugate?
21. What does the size of Ka and Kb tell us? Why?

22. Using phosphoric acid, show why there would be three Ka values.

a. Explain why, for any polyprotic acid, the first equation primarily determines the pH.

b. Using sulfuric acid, explain why there is only one Ka value. Write two equations in your explanation.

24. What are two major factors determining the strength of an acid?

a. If HI is stronger then HBr and both are strong acids, what does that tell you about the relative bond
strength?

25. List the hydrohalic acids from weakest to strongest.

a. Explain why HF is a weak acid even though F- is the most electronegative element.

26. What are oxoacids?

a. How can you compare oxoacids strengths?
1. Rule 1

2. Rule 2