Acid Base Equilibria

Defining an ACID and BASES

Arrhenius
acids: generate H+ in water
bases: generate OH- in water

Brønsted-Lowry
acids: H+ donors
bases: H+ acceptors
Lewis
acids: electron acceptors
bases: electron donors
BRONSTED-LOWRY THEORY
CONJUGATE ACID-BASE PAIR

● Conjugate Base:
remains after H+ is lost
Acid: HCl
Conjugate Base: Cl-

● Conjugate Acid:
remains after H+ is gained
Base: NH3
Conjugate Acid: NH4+
Let’s Practice!

Determine the conjugate acid-base pairs in each reaction:

NH4+(aq) + CN-(aq) ⇄ HCN(aq) + NH3(aq)

(CH3)3N(aq) + H2O(l) ⇄ (CH3)3NH+(aq) + OH-(aq)

HCHO2(aq) + PO43-(aq) ⇄ CHO2-(aq) + HPO42-(aq)

Let’s Practice!

(a)What is the conjugate base of each of the following acids:

HClO4

H 2S

PH4+

HCO3–
Let’s Practice!

(b) What is the conjugate acid of each of the following bases:

CN–

SO42–

H2O

HCO3–
Strength of Acids and Bases
 ● 100% dissociation
Strong Acids ● Good H+ donor
● Equilibrium lies far
to right
● Generates weak
conjugate base
(NO3-)
Basicity/Proticity of Strong Acids -
this refers to the number of H+ ions
that are produced per mole of acid
Basicity/Proticity of Strong acids

Dibasic/Diprotic Tribasic/Triprotic
Monobasic/ Monoprotic
2 moles of H+ ion is produced 3 moles of H+ ion is produced
1 mole of H+ ion is produced
per mole of acid per mole of acid
per mole of acid

HCl (aq) ➝ H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)

H2SO4 (aq)➝ 2H+ (aq) + SO4- (aq)
H3PO4 (aq)➝ 3H+ (aq) + PO43- (aq)
 ● <100% dissociation
● Not-as-good H+ donor
Weak Acids ● Equilibrium lies far to
left (CH3COOH)
● Generates strong
conjugate base
(CH3COO-)
 ● 100% dissociation
Strong Bases
● OH- supplied to
solution
NaOH(s) → Na +
(aq) + OH -
(aq)
 Weak Bases ● <100%
dissociation
● OH- by reaction
CH3NH2(aq) + H2O(l) ⇋ CH NH
3 2(aq)
with water
+
OH-(aq)
Calculating pH
pH= -log[H+]
pOH= -log[OH-]
The Relationship between pH and pOH

The [H+] in water at 25 oC is 10-7 moldm-3. The pH of water is

pH=-log[H+]
=-log[10-7]
=7
The [OH-] in water at 25 oC is 10-7 moldm-3. The pOH of water is
pOH=-log[OH-]
=-log[10-7]
=7
pOH + pH =14
 As [H+] rises, [OH-] falls
OH-
OH -

H +
H +
OH -
H+
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Acidic Neutral Basic
Calculating the pH of strong acids and bases

Example

(a) Calculate the pH of 0.1 moldm-3 HCl

(b)Calculate the pH of 0.1 moldm-3 H2SO4

(c) Calculate the pH of 0.23 moldm-3 Ca(OH)2

(d)Calculate the pH of 0.23 moldm-3 NaOH

Acid Dissociation Constant, Ka
The Acid Dissociation Constant

The weak acid dissociates to a small extent in aqueous solution until

equilibrium is achieved.

⇋
The Acid Dissociation Constant

●The acid dissociation constant can be used to

compare the strengths of acids.

●A large Ka value means that the acid is highly

dissociated therefore, it is a strong acid.
Ka Increases
The Acid Dissociation Constant

The pKa can be calculated from the Ka

pKa =- logKa

The larger the value for Ka, the smaller the value for pKa value and
the stronger the acid.
Example

Calculate the pH of a solution of

propanoic acid of concentration
0.2 moldm given that the pka is
-3

4.82.
Base Dissociation Constant, Kb
Base Dissociation Constant

The base dissociation constant can be used to compare the strengths of bases.

⇋
The Base Dissociation Constant

The pKb can be calculated from the Kb

pKb =- logKb

The larger the value for Kb, the smaller the value for pKb value and
the stronger the base.
The ionic product of water, Kw
The ionic Product of Water

● Water at 25 0C dissociates to a very small extent

producing a minute quantity of the hydrogen cation and
hydroxide anion.

● An equilibrium expression can be written for the

dissociation as dynamic equilibrium is achieved.
The ionic Product of Water

H2O (l) ⇋ H+ + OH-

Kc= [H+][OH-]/[H2O]

Kc [H2O]= [H+][OH-]
Kw=[H+][OH-]
The ionic Product of Water

Kw=[H+][OH-]
Kw=[10-7 moldm-3][10-7 moldm-3]
Kw=10-14 moldm-6
Kb and Ka
The relationship Ka and Kb

Ka ✖ Kb = Kw
Taking negative log at both sides
pKa + pKb =pKw
Since pKw = 14 at 25 0C
Therefore pKa + pKb= 14
Let’s Practice

What is the pH of methylamine of

concentration 0.45 moldm-3 given the pKa of
CH3NH3+ is 9.25?
PRACTICE 1
PRACTICE 1
Practice 2
Practice 3
Practice 4
Practice 5
Practice 6
Practice 7

A 1.0M ammonia solution of

(i)

has pOH = 4.63, determine

Kb and pKb for NH3.
Practice 8

A 0.01 M CH3NH2 solution of

has pOH = 6.32, determine Kb
and pKb for CH3NH2
Practice 9

A solution with a pOH of

4.3 has a [H+ ] of
_________
Practice 10

What is the pH of 0.001

moldm KOH solution?
-3
Practice 11

What is the pH of 0.o75

moldm Ba(OH)2 solution?
-3