Beirut Arab University

Faculty of Science
Debbieh Campus

EMPH 207
Fall 2011

Theories of Acids and Bases

Dr Ismail Abbas

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 Brønsted Acid-Base Theory
Acid is a proton donor

base is a proton acceptor.

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 Brønsted Acid-Base Theory
Acid-dissociation equilibrium constant, Ka, measures of the strength of an
acid.

When Ka is relatively large, we have a strong acid. HCl: Ka = 1 x 103

When it is small, we have a weak acid. CH3CO2H: Ka= 1.8 x 10-5

When it is very small, we have a very weak acid. H2O: Ka = 1.8 x 10-16

The value of Kb reflects the strength of its conjugate base

KaKb = Kw = 1 x 10-14
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 Amphoteric substances
Substances which can act as an acid as well as a base
.For example, Al(OH)3, Zn(OH)2

The substance, which can donate or accept a proton to act as an acid or a base is
termed amphiprotic.

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 Amphoteric substances
Water is the most common solvent showing a unique behaviour. It can act as an acid as
well as a base. In reactions like,

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 Acid – base concepts
Arhennius Concept:

Acid: provides H+ ions (called a proton) in water.

HA(aq)  H+(aq) + A(aq)

Base: provides OH in water.

HO
MOH(aq) 2M(aq)  OH(aq)

Chapter 16-6
 Lewis Acids and Bases
A Lewis acid is an electron pair acceptor.

A Lewis base is an electron pair donor.

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 Summary
• Arrhenius Concept
Acids: H+ donors
Bases: OH- donors
Bronsted-Lowry concept
Acids: H+ donors
Bases: H+ acceptors
Lewis concept
Acids: electron pair acceptors
Bases: electron pair donors
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Strength of Acid

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 Binary Acids
Acids of the form Hn-X where “X” is a single atom. (e.g. HCl or H2S)

NH3 < H2O < HF

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 Binary Acids

Acidity trend: H2O < H2S < H2Se < H2Te

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 Binary Acids

H—X Bond Energy Ka

(kJ/mol)

H—F 569 ~7 × 10-4

H—Cl 431 ~107
H—Br 368 ~109
H—I 297 ~1010

The order of acid strength for this series,

HF << HCl < HBr < HI

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 oxyacids
Acids of the form HmYOn (e.g. HNO3 or H2SO4)

Examples of oxyacids of the same element:

H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) and H2SO3 (sulfurous acid)

HNO3 (nitric acid) and HNO2 (nitrous acid)

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oxyacids

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oxyacids

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Polyprotic Acids

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 Carboxylic acids
An important group of organic acids contains the carboxyl group, -CO2H. Accordingly,
such acids are called carboxylic acids.

HCO2H CH3CO2H CH3CH2CO2H CH3CH2CH2CO2H HO2CCO2H

formic acetic propionic butyric oxolic (diprotic)

The acidity of the carboxyl group is partly due to the electronegativity of the double-
bonded oxygen, which withdraws electron density from the –O–H bond, thereby
facilitating the loss of H+ to solvent water.

Furthermore, when a carboxyl group loses H+, it forms a resonance stabilized anion,
called a carboxylate ion:

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The acidity of a carboxylic acid can be enhanced by adding electronegative atoms to the
rest of the molecule. The electron withdrawing ability of such atoms weakens the –O–H
bond (inductive effect), thereby enhancing the ability of solvent water to remove H . For
example, Cl3CCO2H is a much stronger acid than CH3CO2H.

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