Acids & Bases

They are everywhere..

In your food
In your house
EVEN IN YOU!!!!!
 What is an acid?
 An acid is a solution that has an
excess of H+ ions. It comes from the
Latin word acidus that means "sharp"
or "sour".
 The more H + ions, the more acidic
the solution.
 Properties of an Acid

 Tastes Sour
 Conduct Electricity
 Corrosive, which means
they break down certain
substances. Many acids can
corrode fabric, skin,and
paper
 Some acids react strongly
with metals
 Turns blue litmus paper red

Picture from BBC Revision Bites

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/chemistry/acids_b
ases_1.shtml
Uses of Acids
 Acetic Acid = Vinegar
 Citric Acid = lemons,
limes, & oranges. It is in
many sour candies such
as lemonhead & sour
patch.
 Ascorbic acid = Vitamin
C which your body needs
to function.
 Sulfuric acid is used in
the production of
fertilizers, steel, paints,
and plastics.
 Car batteries
What is a base?

 A base is a solution that

has an excess of OH-
ions.
 Another word for base
is alkali.
 Bases are
substances that can
accept hydrogen ions
Properties of a Base

 Feel Slippery
 Taste Bitter
 Corrosive
 Can conduct electricity.
(Think alkaline
batteries.)
 Do not react with metals.
 Turns red litmus paper
blue.
Uses of Bases
 Bases give soaps,
ammonia, and many
other cleaning products
some of their useful
properties.
 The OH- ions interact
strongly with certain
substances, such as dirt
and grease.
 Chalk and oven cleaner
are examples of familiar
products that contain
bases.
 Your blood is a basic
solution.
The properties of acids and bases are related to
their chemical structure.
 Definitions of Acids and Bases
We will look at several (not all) concepts of acid-
base theory including:
– The Arrhenius concept
– The Bronsted Lowry concept
– The Lewis concept
 The Arrhenius Definition
 According to the Arrhenius concept of
acids and bases, an acid is a
substance that, when dissolved in
water, increases the concentration
of hydronium ion (H3O+) (produces
H+).
Chemists often use the notation H+(aq) for
the H3O+(aq) ion, and call it the hydrogen
ion.
Remember, however, that the aqueous
hydrogen ion is actually chemically bonded
to water, that is, H3O+. 11
Arrhenius Concept of Acids and Bases
 A base, in the Arrhenius concept, is a
substance that, when dissolved in
water, increases the concentration
of hydroxide ion, OH-(aq) (produces
OH-).

12
Arrhenius Concept of Acids and Bases

 In the Arrhenius concept, a strong

(100%) acid is a substance that ionizes
completely in aqueous solution to give
H3O+(aq) and an anion.

An example is perchloric acid, HClO4.

 
HClO 4 ( aq )  H 2O (l )  H 3O ( aq )  ClO4 ( aq )
 
HClO 4 ( aq )  H ( aq )  ClO4 ( aq )
Ionization is the process in which individual positive and negative
ions are produced from a molecular compound that is dissolved in
solution. 13
6 strong acids include
HCl, HBr, HI, HNO3 , HClO4, and
H2SO4.

Must memorize; work future

problems
Arrhenius Concept of Acids and Bases
 In the Arrhenius concept, a strong (100%)
base is a substance that dissociates
completely in aqueous solution to give OH-
(aq) and a cation.

– An example is sodium hydroxide, NaOH (ionic).

NaOH (s ) H
O
Na  (aq )  OH  (aq )
2

Dissociation is the process in which individual positive and

negative ions are produced from an ionic compound that is
dissolved in solution. 15
6 strong bases include
NaOH, LiOH, KOH, Ca(OH)2,
Sr(OH)2, and Ba(OH)2.
– memorize
 Arrhenius Concept of Acids and Bases

 Rest of acids and bases (NH3, NH2-, NH-, anions) that

you encounter are weak. They are not completely
ionized and exist in reversible reaction with the
corresponding ions.
– An example is acetic acid, HC2H3O2.
HC 2 H 3O 2 (aq )  H 2O ( l )  
H 3O (aq)  C 2 H 3O 2 (aq)

– Ammonium hydroxide, NH4OH, is a weak base.

 
NH 4OH (aq ) NH 4 (aq )  OH (aq )

17
Arrhenius Concept of Acids and Bases
 The Arrhenius concept is limited in that it looks at
acids and bases in aqueous solutions only involving
H+ and OH-. There are many substances with
acid/base properties that do not involve these and
cannot be classified by this theory.
– In addition, it singles out the OH- ion as the source
of base character, when other species can play a
similar role
– There are broader definitions of acids and bases
which we will cover.
The Arrhenius definition was limited to substances which were
soluble in water
18
 The Brønsted-Lowry Definition
According to the Brønsted-Lowry concept,

• an acid is the species donating the proton

in a proton-transfer reaction.
• A base is the species accepting the proton
in a proton-transfer reaction.

19
Brønsted-Lowry Concept of Acids and
Bases
 What is it by Bronsted-Lowry?

 
NH 3 (aq )  H 2O( l ) NH 4 (aq )  OH (aq )
base acid

H+
– In the forward reaction, NH3 accepts a proton
from H2O. Thus, NH3 is a base and H2O is an
acid. Same conclusion without looking at OH-

20
Brønsted-Lowry Concept of Acids and
Bases
 
NH 3 (aq )  H 2O( l ) NH 4 (aq )  OH (aq )
base acid Conj. acid Conj. base

– The species NH4+ / NH3 and H2O / OH- are

conjugate acid-base pair.
– A conjugate acid-base pair consists of two
species in an acid-base reaction, one acid and
one base, that differ by the loss or gain of
one proton.

21
Brønsted-Lowry Concept of Acids and
Bases

 Some species can act as an acid or a base.

An amphoteric species is a species that can act
either as an acid or a base (it can gain or lose a proton).

  2
HCO 3 ( aq )  OH ( aq )  CO 3 ( aq )  H 2 O (l )
acid base

H+

–HCO3- acid and CO32- conj base

–OH- base and H2O conj acid
22
Brønsted-Lowry Concept of Acids and
Bases
–Alternatively, HCO3- can act as a proton acceptor (a
base) in the presence of HF. Proton accepter and base in
this reaction. HCO3- base, H2CO3 conj acid, HF acid, F-
conj base

HCO 3 ( aq )  HF ( aq )  H 2 CO 3 ( aq )  F  ( aq )
base acid

H+
–HCO3- base and H2CO3 conj acid
–HF acid and F- conj base

23
 Determining the Formula at One
Member of a Conjugate Acid-Base pair
when given the Other Member
● Write the chemical formula of each of
the following
● a. The conjugate base of HSO4- SO42-

● b. The conjugate acid of NO3- HNO3

● c. The conjugate base of H3PO4 H2PO4-

● d. The conjugate acid of HC2O4- H2C2O4

 Acid Dissociations
Monoprotic:(one step dissociation)
 HCl(aq) + H20⇄ H3O+ (aq) + Cl-(aq)
 CH3COOH(aq) + H20 ⇄ H3O+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq)
 HNO3 (aq) + H20 ⇄ H3O+ (aq)+ NO3-(aq)

Diprotic: (two step dissociation)

 H2SO4(aq) + H20 ⇄ H3O+(aq) + HSO4- (aq)
 HSO4-(aq) + H20 ⇄ H3O+(aq) + SO42- (aq)

Triprotic: (three step dissociation)

 H3PO4(aq) + H20 ⇄ H3O+(aq) + H2PO4- (aq)
 H2SO4-(aq) + H20 ⇄ H3O+(aq) + HPO42- (aq)
 H2SO42-(aq) + H20 ⇄ H3O+(aq) + PO43- (aq)
 Ionization Constants for Acids and
Bases
● The strengths of various acids and bases
can be quantified by use of ionization
constants.
● Acid ionization constant is the equilibrium
constant for the reaction of a weak acid
with water.
General Formula:

HA(aq) + H2O(l) <--> H3O+(aq) + A-(aq)

Ka = [ H3O+][A-]
[HA]
Calculating the Acid Ionization Constant for
an Acid when given its Concentration and
Percent ionization

● A 0.0100M solution of an acid, HA, is

15% ionized. Calculate the acid
ionization constant for this acid.
 Problem
● A 0.100M solution of an acid, HA, is
6% ionized. Calculate the acid
ionization constant for this acid.
A salt is an ion compound containing a metal or polyatomic ions as the
positive ion and a nonmetal or polyatomic ion (except hydroxide) as the
negative ion.
Acid – Base reactions

 Each salt listed in this

table can be formed by
the reaction between an
acid and a base.
At equilibrium and 24˚C, the H3O+ and OH- concentrations are
1.00x10-7M.
 Problem
● Sufficient acidic solute is added to a
quantity of water to produce a
solution with [H3O+] = 4.0 x 10-3. What is
the [OH-] in this solution?
● Sufficient acidic solute is added to a
quantity of water to produce a
solution with [H3O+] = 5.7 x 10-6. What is
the [OH-] in this solution?
 The pH Concept
● The pH scale is a
scale of small
numbers that is used
to specify molar
hydronium ion
concentration in an
aqueous solution.
 pH Values and Hydronium Ion
Concentration

● Equation for pH
pH= -log[H3O+]
Ex.
● Calculate the pH for each of the following
solutions.
a. [H30+]= 1.0x10-6
b. [OH-]= 1.0x10-6
 [H3O+]= antilog –pH

The pH of a solution is 6.80. What is the molar

hydronium ion concentration for this solution?

[H3O+]= antilog –6.80

[H3O+]=1.58x10-7
Calculate the pH for each of the
following solutions
a. [H3O+] = 1.0 x 10-6 pH= 6
pH= 8
b. [OH-] = 1.0 x 10-6
c. [H3O+] = 1.0 x 10-3 pH= 3

d. [OH-] = 1.0 x 10-8 pH= 6

What is the [H3O+] for this solution

e. pH= 3.44 [H3O+]= 3.6x10-4
[H3O+]= 7.23x10-8
f. pH= 7.141 [H3O +]= 5.70x10-3
g. pH= 2.244
● Calculate the pH for each of the
following solutions
● a. [H3O+] = 1.0 x 10-3
● b. [OH-] = 1.0 x 10-8
Acid – Base reactions

 Each salt listed in this

table can be formed by
the reaction between an
acid and a base.