Acid and Base Chemistry

•Acids and Bases can both be defined

empirically and theoretically.
 Empirical Definitions
Acid – a substance which dissolves in water to produce a solution that:
•Tastes sour
•Turns blue litmus red
•Conducts electricity
•Reacts with metals to produce H2(g)
•Neutralizes Bases

Base – a substance which dissolves in water to produce a solution that:

•Tastes bitter; feels slippery
•Turns red litmus blue
•Conducts electricity
•Neutralizes acids
 Theoretical Definitions – what we know so far…
Arrhenius:

Acid – a molecular substance that forms an acidic solution by ionizing in

water to produce free hydrogen ions (H+(aq)) in solution

•Example: HCl (aq)  H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)

Base – a substance that forms a basic solution by dissociating in water to

produce free hydroxide ions (OH-(aq)) in solution

•Example: NaOH(aq)  Na+(aq) + OH–(aq)

 Theoretical Definitions
Modified Definition:

Acid – a species that forms an acidic solution by reacting with water to produce
hydronium ions (H3O+(aq))

•Example: HCl (aq) + H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + Cl- (aq)

Base – a species that forms a basic solution by reacting with water to produce
hydroxide ions (OH-(aq))

•Example: NH3 (aq) + H2O(l) NH4+(aq) + OH–(aq)

The hydronium ion (hydrated proton) – was discovered by Paul

Giguère at the Université Laval in 1957.
 The Hydronium Ion
• Theoretical chemists thought it was unlikely that a hydrogen ion, which is a
tiny proton with a very high charge-to-size ratio, could exist on its own in
aqueous solution.
• Instead they thought it would bond strongly to polar water molecules.
• Paul Giguère provided empirical evidence for this type of bonding when he
discovered hydrated protons (H3O+(aq)); commonly called hydronium ions
• The modern view of acids and bases is that the hydronium ions (H3O+(aq)); are
responsible for acidic properties and hydroxide ions (OH–(aq)) are responsible
for basic properties
 Learning Tips:
• The terms “acid” and “base” refer to chemical substances, whereas
the terms “acidic” and “basic” refer to the properties of a solution
• Chemists have known about some acids for hundreds of years.
Because these acids are commonly known by familiar names, their
IUPAC names are not often used. You should know both forms of
naming for acids.
• Do you remember how to name acids?
 Naming Acids
• Systematic IUPAC • Traditional

1) aqueous hydrogen chloride 1) hydrogen ______ide = hydro______ic acid

HCl (aq) ex. hydrogen chloride = hydrochloric acid

2) aqueous hydrogen chlorate 2) hydrogen ______ate = __________ic acid

HClO3(aq) ex. hydrogen chlorate = chloric acid

3) aqueous hydrogen chlorite 3) hydrogen ______ite = __________ous acid

HClO2(aq) ex. hydrogen chlorite = chlorous acid

Remember: acid contains sulfur = you add a ur H2SO4(aq) sulfuric acid

acid contains phosphorus = add an or H3PO4(aq) phorphoric acid
Practice – Naming Acids
IUPAC Traditional
• HClO4(aq) aqueous hydrogen perchlorate perchloric acid

aqueous hydrogen hypochlorite hypochlorous acid

• HClO(aq)
aqueous hydrogen nitrite nitrous acid
• HNO2(aq)
aqueous hydrogen nitrate nitric acid
• HNO3(aq)
aqueous hydrogen sulfate sulfuric acid
• H2SO4(aq)
aqueous hydrogen sulfite sulfurous acid
• H2SO3(aq) aqueous hydrogen phosphate phosphoric acid

• H3PO4(aq)
 Pure Water
• Pure water actually self ionizes (called “auto-ionization”),
so it contains H+(aq) and OH-(aq) ions, but their
concentrations are so low that a conductivity test is
negative.
• In a sample of pure water, about two out of every billion
molecular collisions are successful in forming hydronium and
hydroxide ions
2H2O(l)  H3O+(aq) and OH-(aq)
• In pure water at SATP, the hydronium ion concentration is very
low; about 1 x 10-7 mol/L
• This concentration is often negligible and will show no conductivity
unless very sensitive equipment is used
 Pure Water
• Adding acid to water adds H3O+(aq) ions causing the H3O+(aq)
concentration to increase, thus it makes the solution conductive

• Adding base to water adds OH-(aq) ions causing the OH-(aq)

concentration to increase, thus it makes the solution conductive
• A solution in which the H3O+ and OH- concentrations equal each other
is considered a NEUTRAL solution.

• Aqueous solutions exhibit a wide range of hydronium ion

concentrations – from more than 10 mol/L for concentrated HCl (aq) to
less than 10-15 mol/L for concentrated NaOH(aq)
pH – “power of hydrogen”
• This range is called pH; meaning “power of hydrogen”
 NOTICE: pH changes
Changes in pH can be deceptive. Adding vinegar to pure water might change
the pH from 7 to 4. While this change of 3 pH units may not appear
significant, the change in hydronium ion concentration is 103 or 1000 times
larger
pH Calculations
 pH is the negative base ten logarithm of the molar
concentration of hydronium ions in a solution

pH = -log [H3O+]

• The concept of pH makes working with very small values,

such as 6.7 x 10-8 mol/L much easier (see math on notes).
 Sig digs for pH calculations:
“The number of digits following the decimal point in the
pH value is equal to the number of sig digs in the
hydronium ion concentration.”

[H3O +(aq)] = 6.7 x 10 -8 (two sig digs)

pH = 7.17 (two sig digs)

pH, pOH, [H3O+], [OH-] Calculations, use student notes walk-
through
Calculating pOH
• We have looked at the hydronium concentrations of solutions to this
point, but what about hydroxide ion concentration?
• pOH refers to the power of hydroxide ion concentration

pOH = -log [OH-]

The Relationship Between pH and pOH
pH + pOH = 14.00
Calculating [H3O+(aq)] and [OH-(aq)] from pH
and pOH

[H3O+(aq)] = 10-pH

[OH-(aq)] = 10-pOH
Expanding our Acid Base Arrhenius Definitions
• Arrhenius did not know that a hydrogen ion is better described as
a hydronium ion; a hydrogen ion bonded to a water molecule

• Easy to predict HCl(aq): HCl (aq)  H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq) ACID

• But what about: NaHCO3(aq) or CO2(g) ACID or BASE??

 Do you remember?
• Modified Definition of an Acid:

• A species that forms an acidic solution by reacting with water to

produce hydronium ions (H3O+(aq))

•Example: HCl (aq) + H2O(aq) H3O+(aq) + Cl- (aq)

•Example: NaHSO4(aq)  Na+(aq) + HSO4- (aq) Dissociation...

HSO4- (aq) + H2O(aq) H3O+(aq) + SO42- (aq) Then reacts with water
 Do you remember?
• Modified Definition of a Base:
• A species that forms an basic solution by reacting with water to produce hydroxide ions (OH-(aq))

• Example: Sr(OH)2 (aq)  Sr2+(aq) + 2 OH- (aq)

• There is no need to show the reaction with water because hydroxide ions are already present in Sr(OH)2 so a
simple dissociation produces the hydroxide ions

• Example: NH3 (aq) + H2O(aq) NH4+(aq) + OH–(aq)

• The modified definition (reaction with water) is necessary here to explain how hydroxide ions form in
solution.

• Example: Na2CO3 (aq)  2 Na+(aq) + CO32-(aq) Dissociation...

CO32- (aq) + H2O(aq) HCO3-(aq) + OH- (aq) then reacts with water
 Summary
1. Write the chemical formulas for the reactants: molecule or polyatomic ion water.

• Ignore any Group 1 and 2 cations, and Group 7 anions in the compound formula.
Evidence from many compounds shows that these ions do not produce acidic or basic solutions.

• If the substance is a non-metal oxide (e.g. CO2(g), SO2(g)), use two moles of water for every mole of the substance in
the reactants.

2. Note the evidence provided. If the final solution is acidic, write hydronium ions as
the first product. If the final solution is basic, then hydroxide ions are the first product.

3. Complete the other product by determining the combination of atoms and charge
required to balance the chemical equation.

• The other product should be a recognizable chemical formula—usually a polyatomic ion on your polyatomic ion
chart (see the inside back cover).
 Practice
• In a test of the modified Arrhenius theory, a student tested the pH of a solution made by
dissolving solid sodium cyanide in water, and found it to have a pH greater than 7.
• Can the modified Arrhenius theory explain this evidence? Provide your reasoning.

NaCN(s)  soluble ionic compound – therefore dissociates:

NaCN (s)  Na+(aq) + CN-(aq) then CN- reacts with water

CN-(aq) + H2O(aq)  OH-(aq) + HCN(aq)

• The modified Arrhenius theory can explain the basic character of a sodium cyanide solution
because it is possible to write a balanced chemical equation with valid products, including
the hydroxide ion.
More Practice....
• HI(aq) – explain acidic properties
• HI(aq) + H2O(l)  H3O+(aq) + I- (aq)

• NaCH3COO(aq) – explain basic properties

• NaCH3COO(aq)  Na+ (aq) + CH3COO-(aq) Simple Dissociation

• CH3COO-(aq) + H2O(l)  CH3COOH (aq) + OH-(aq)

• HOCl(aq) – explain acidic properties

• HOCl + H2O(l)  H3O+(aq) + OCl- (aq)
 Try Three More...

• H3PO4(aq) – explain acidic properties

• H3PO4(aq) + H2O(l)  H3O+(aq) + H2PO4- (aq)

• Na2SO4 (aq) – explain basic properties

• Na2SO4 (aq)  2 Na+ (aq) + SO42-(aq) Simple Dissociation

• SO42-(aq) + H2O(l)  HSO4- (aq) + OH-(aq)

• Sr(OH)2(aq) – explain basic properties

• Sr(OH)2(aq)  Sr2+(aq) + 2 OH- (aq)

 Will I ask you to predict if something is an acid or base?

• No, for example:

Na2HPO4(s) → 2 Na+(aq) HPO42-(aq)
• Will the solution be acidic, basic, or neutral? We can write valid equations to predict that
either hydronium ions or hydroxide ions will form when hydrogen phosphate ions react
with water:

HPO42-(aq) + H2O(l) → H3O+(aq) PO43-(aq)

Or
HPO42-(aq) + H2O(l) → OH-(aq) H2PO4-(aq)

• Nothing that you have studied so far in this textbook enables you to predict which is
correct. If you know that the solution turns blue litmus red, then you can select one of the
equations to explain the evidence.
 PAUSE: A bit of biochemistry…
• Our bodies have a “buffer” system. Cellular Respiration produces CO2 as a waste,
which is turned into H2CO3 which will then dissociate into bicarbonate ions
(HCO3-) and H+ ions. When these ions reach the lungs, they are returned to CO2
to be exhaled.
• While in the blood, bicarbonate ions serve to neutralize acids floating around in
the blood stream, like lactic acids and gastric juices (HCl). Bases (e.g. urea from
the kidneys) are neutralized by H2CO3
• This buffer system is important to maintain the pH of our blood. If the [CO2] gets
too high, it forms carbonic acid when it reacts with the water in our blood.
PAUSE: Chemistry of the Environment
• Slight changes to the pH of water systems can be
detrimental
• Changes to the pH of water can cause a change in
the solubility of phosphorous and other nutrients –
an increase in these can cause an increase in algal
growth (algae blooms)
• Carbon dioxide is one of the most common causes
for a change in the pH of water (acid)
• Most water samples (including bottled water!)
contain impurities which may affect the
concentrations of hydronium and hydroxide ions.
• READING: Braiding Sweetgrass
• Carbon dioxide is a major air pollutant from the combustion of
fossil fuels. Suggest a possible chemical reaction that explains
the acidity of a carbon dioxide solution (rain water).

CO2(g) + 2 H2O(aq)  H3O+(aq) + HCO3-(aq)

Limestone in the soil helps to buffer and neutralize the pH

• The modified Arrhenius theory can explain the acidic

character of a carbon dioxide solution because it is possible to
write a balanced chemical equation with valid products,
including the hydronium ion.
 Neutralization Reactions
• Can now be defined as the reaction between hydronium and hydroxide ions to
produce water.

Example: HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq)  NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)

• If we mix an acid and a base, we must be mixing solutions of hydronium and

hydroxide ions, so the modified Arrhenius theory predicts:

H3O+(aq) + OH-(aq)  2H2O(l)

 Summary
• Acids are substances that react with water to produce
hydronium ions

• Most bases are substances that react with water to

produce hydroxide ions

• Neutralization can be explained as the reaction between

hydronium ions and hydroxide ions to produce water.