Introduction to

Acids and Bases

Khady Guiro
NJIT C2PRISM Fellow
 DO NOW

• Brainstorm
– What are common acids and bases?
– What tools can be used to measure
acids and bases?
 Introduction
• Organisms are often very sensitive to the effect of
acids and bases in their environment.

• They need to maintain a stable internal pH in order

to survive—even in the event of environmental
changes.

• Many naturally occurring biological, geological, and

man-made chemicals are capable of stabilizing the
environment’s pH.

• This may allow organisms to better survive in diverse

environments found throughout the earth.
 Introduction Cont.
• Acids and bases are a way of classifying
compounds based upon what happens to
them when you place them in water.

• An acid is a substance that yields an excess

of hydrogen ions when dissolved in water.

• A base is a substance that yields an excess

of hydroxide ions when dissolved in water.
OH 


Definitions of Acids and

Bases
• An acid is a substance that breaks into H  


ions in an aqueous solution.

• A Base (is a substance that breaks into OH  

ions in an aqueous solution.

• Note: aqueous solution is any solution

where H 2 O is the solvent.
ACIDS
 Common Acids

Vinegar
(acetic or ethanoic
Citric Acid acid)
 Characteristics of Acids

• Sour taste (for

edible acids)
• May burn your
skin
• Turn litmus paper
from blue to red.
 Other Examples of Acids
• HCl Hydrochloric Acid

• H2SO4 Sulfuric Acid

• CH3COOH Acetic Acid (Vinegar)

BASES
Common Bases

Ammonia
 Characteristics of Bases

• Bitter taste (for edible

bases only)
• Can be poisonous and
corrosive.
• Feels slippery
• Turn litmus from red
to blue.
 Other examples of Bases

• Sodium Hydroxide NaOH

• Potassium Hydroxide KOH

• Ammonia NH3
Three Definitions of Acids
and Bases
Three Definitions of Acids and
Bases
• Svante Arrhenius (Swedish 1887)

• Bronsted- Lowry (Danish and

English 1923 independently
proposed definition)

• Gilbert Lewis (American 1920’s)

Arrhenius Definition of Acids
and Bases
• Acids produce hydrogen ions (H+) in
an aqueous solution, while bases
produce hydroxide ion (OH-).

Acid: HCl (aq) H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)

Base: NaOH(aq) Na+(aq) + OH-(aq)

 Bronsted- Lowry Definition
of Acids and Bases
• An acid is a proton (H+) donor.
• A base is a proton (H+) acceptor.

• Example:
HF + H2O H3O + F + -

Acid Base
H3O+ : hydronium ion
 Lewis Definition of Acids and
Bases
• An acid accepts a pair of electrons.
• A base donates a pair of electrons.

• This is a more general definition than

the previous two.
• Example:

:NH3 + H+  NH4+
 Three Models of Acids and
Bases
Model Definition of Definition of
Acid Base
Arrhenius H+ producer OH- producer

Bronsted-Lowry H+ donor H+ acceptor

Lewis Electron-pair Electron-pair

acceptor donor
Conjugate Acids and Bases
• Conjugate acid is the particle
formed that has received the
proton. (ex: H3O+)

• Conjugate base is the particle left

from the acid once it has donated
the proton.
 Conjugate Acids and Bases

• General expression:

HA (aq) + H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + A- (aq)

Acid Base Conjugate Conjugate

Acid Base
 Importance of WATER

• Water acts as an acid and as a

base. It is amphoteric
 Acids

• A dilute acid has lots of water and a

small amount of acid
• A concentrated acid has lots of acid
and not much water so must be
handled carefully

• A strong acid releases lots of H+

• A weak acid releases fewer H+
 The extent to which a
compound is acidic or
basic is measured by the
pH scale.
 Measuring acid strength?
• To decide if something is an acid or a base we
can use an indicator.
• Litmus and Universal Indicator are examples
of indicators.
• They change colour depending on if they are
in an acid or a base.
What is the pH scale?
• The pH scale
measures
how acidic
or basic a
solution is.
 Identifying Acids and
Bases
• Acids have a ph from 0-7
• Lower pH value indicates a
stronger acid.

• Bases have a pH from 7-14

• Higher pH value indicates a
stronger base.
Did we Miss something??
• What happens when the pH of a
substance is 7?

• Ans: A pH level of 7 indicates a

Neutral Substance i.e: Water!
 Why Learn about Acids &
Bases?
• What do you think is the pH level of
NYC tap water?

• The pH of a swimming pool must be

checked periodically. Why?

• Is it important for Lakes & Rivers to

maintain a certain pH?
 Situations in which pH is
controlled
• “Heartburn”
• Planting vegetables and flowers
• Fish Tanks and Ponds
• Blood
• Swimming pools
 Acid Rain
• Pollution in the air (sulfur dioxide,
carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide)
combines with water to form various
acids.
.
 pH in the Digestive System
• Mouth-pH around 7. Saliva contains
amylase, an enzyme which begins to break
carbohydrates into sugars.

• Stomach- pH around 2. Proteins are broken

down into amino acids by the enzyme
pepsin.

• Small intestine-pH around 8. Most digestion

ends. Small molecules move to bloodstream
toward cells that use them
Review
 Acids

þ Produce H+ (as H3O+) ions in water

þ Produce a negative ion (-) too
þ Taste sour
þ Corrode metals
þ React with bases to form salts and water
 Bases

Produce OH- ions in water

Taste bitter, chalky
Are electrolytes
Feel soapy, slippery
React with acids to form salts and
water
 pH of Common Substances

Timberlake, Chemistry 7th Edition, page 335

 Buffers

• A buffer is a solution that resists

changes in pH when small amounts
of acids and bases are added.
Vernier experiment
 Today’s Experiment
• Using Vernier Software:

– Calibrate pH sensor using Buffers

– Test the pH of distilled water, HCL,
NAOH.
– Test pH of 5 Unknowns
– Test pH of common house hold items
(Ketchup, coffee, tap water, Detergent)