What are Acids and

Bases?
An acid is any hydrogen containing substance that is capable of donating a proton (hydrogen ion) to another
substance. The word acid comes from a Latin word ‘acere’ which means ‘sour’.
Fruit, juices, and other food preparations are acids or may contain acid. In general, acids are compounds
which, when dissolved in water,
• form solutions that conduct electricity
• react with metals like zinc and magnesium to produce salts and a gas (usually hydrogen)
• taste sour (but not all are safe to taste)
• turn blue litmus paper to red, and
• react with bases to form salt and water

A base is a molecule or ion able to accept a hydrogen ion from an acid. Bases are compounds which, when
dissolved in water,
• yield solutions that also conduct electric current
• feel slippery or soapy on the skin
• taste bitter (but not all are safe to taste)
• turn red litmus paper to blue, and
• react with acids to form salt and water
Theories of Acids and Bases
Three different theories have been put forth in order to define acids and
bases. These theories include the Arrhenius theory, the Bronsted-Lowry
theory, and the Lewis theory of acids and bases. Acids and bases can be
defined via three different theories.

• The Arrhenius theory of acids and bases states that “an acid generates
H+ ions in a solution whereas a base produces an OH– ion in its solution”.
• The Bronsted-Lowry theory defines “an acid as a proton donor and a base
as a proton acceptor”.
• The Lewis theory definition of acids and bases describes “acids as
electron-pair acceptors and bases as electron-pair donors”.
Uses of Acids and Bases
The various uses of acids and bases are listed in this subsection.

1. Uses of Acids
• Vinegar, a diluted solution of acetic acid, has various household applications. It is primarily used as a food
preservative.
• Citric acid is an integral part of lemon juice and orange juice. It can also be used in the preservation of food.
• Sulphuric acid acid is widely used in batteries. The batteries used to start the engines of automobiles commonly
contain this acid.
• The industrial production of explosives, dyes, paints, and fertilizers involves the use of sulphuric acid acid and
nitric acid.
• Phosphoric acid is a key ingredient in many soft drinks.

2. Uses of Bases
• The manufacturing of soap and paper involves the use of sodium hydroxide. NaOH is also used in the
manufacture of rayon.
• Ca(OH)2, also known as slaked lime or calcium hydroxide, is used to manufacture bleaching powder.
• Dry mixes used in painting or decoration are made with the help of calcium hydroxide.
• Magnesium hydroxide, also known as milk of magnesia, is commonly used as a laxative. It also reduces any
excess acidity in the human stomach and is, therefore, used as an antacid.
• Ammonium hydroxide is a very important reagent used in laboratories.
• Any excess acidity in soils can be neutralized by employing slaked lime.
Concept of pH
 The history of the concept of pH

The concept of pH was introduced first by Soren Sorensen, a Danish Chemist, in 1909.
It was introduced as a convenient way to express acidity. Until the pH scale was developed, there
was no other accurate and widely accepted method of expressing hydrogen ion concentrations. The
symbol pH, stands for some German words which literally means “the power of hydrogen ion.”
The pH of a solution is defined as the negative logarithm (-log) of the hydronium ion concentration,
[H3O+] or [H+] .
Understanding pH
 pH Definition
• What pH actually is. The pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. A solution with a high
concentration of hydrogen ions is acidic. A solution with a low amount of hydrogen ions is basic, or also known as alkaline.
Hydrogen ions, also known as hydronium, are written shorthand as H+ or H3O+.
• The pH scale. The pH scale is usually presented from 0 to 14. The lower the number, the more acidic the solution. The higher
the number, the more basic the solution. For example, orange juice would have a pH of 2 because it is quite acidic. In contrast,
bleach has a pH of 12 as it is quite basic. Numbers in the middle of the scale are neutral, such as water, with a pH of 7.
One level of pH is a 10x difference. For example, when comparing pH 7 to pH 6, pH 6 is ten times more acidic than pH 7.
Furthermore, pH 6 would be 100 times more acidic than pH 8.
• pH in an equation. The pH scale is calculated by a negative logarithm. A negative logarithm of base b is simply how many
times a number must be divided by b to reach 1. The pH equation can be seen as follows: pH = -log[H3O+]. The equation can
sometimes be seen as pH = -log[H+]. Know that whether the equation has H3O+ or H+, they are the same.

• Understand concentration. Concentration is the number of particles of a compound in a solution relative to the volume of
the same solution. For pH, you have to use molar concentration for the formula to work out. Molar concentration, which is also
called molarity, denotes the number of moles of dissolved compound per liter of solution. Its units are moles per liter (mol/L),
also called molar (M).
 pH Equation

pH = -log [H+]
pH = - log [H3O+]
or [H3O+]= 1 x 10-pH or 10-pH
If
[H3O+]= 1 x 10-5 or 10-5 pH= 5

[H3O+]= 1 x 10-11 or 10-11 pH= 11

[H3O+]= 1 x 10-7 or 10-7 pH= 7
 Using the Concentration to Calculate pH
The concentration is 1.05 x 10-5 M.
• Remember the pH equation. The pH equation is as follows: pH = -log[H3O+].
• Identify the actual concentration. Read over your chemistry question. Identify the concentration
of the acid or base. Write down the entire equation on paper with the known values represented in
the equation. Always include units to avoid confusion.
pH = -log[1.05 x 10-5 M]

• Solve the equation. When solving the pH equation, you must use a scientific calculator. First, hit
the “negative” button. It is usually written as “+/-”. Now key in the “log” button. Your screen
should display “-log”. Now hit an open bracket and enter in your concentration. Don’t forget to add
exponents when necessary. Follow with a closed bracket. At this point, you should see “-
log(1.05x10^-5). Hit solve. Your pH should be approximately 4.98.
pH = -log[1.05 x 10-5 M]
pH=4.98
Pure water has a hydronium ion concentration of 1 x 10 -7 M.

pH = - log [H3O+]
Given: [H3O+]= 1 x 10-7 M

pH = - log [1 x 10-7]
pH= 7

1. Calculate the pH of a solution containing [H3O+]=1.4 x 10-3 M.

pH = -log [H3O+]
Given: [H3O+]=1.4 x 10-3 M

pH= -log [1.4 x 10-3]

pH= 2.85
2. Calculate the pH of 0.075 M HNO3 . 4. What is the pH of an H2SO4 solution with a molarity of
1.5 x 10-4 ?
Given:
pH= -log [H3O+]
[H3O+]= 1.5 x 10-4 M
pH=-log [H3O+]
HNO3 H+ + NO3
= -log [(2)1.5 x 10-4]
= -log [3 x 10-4]
pH= 3.5
1 x 0.075= 0.075M
pH= -log [0.075 M] Try this:
pH= 1
1. A solution has a H3O+ concentration equal 5.5 x 10-8 M.
3. What is the pH of a 2.5 x 10-6 M solution HCL? 2. The pH of rainwater in a locality is 3. What is the [H O+]?
3
Given: 3. Calculate the pH of a solution in which the
[H3O ]= 2.5 x 10 M
+ -6
[H3O+] = 0.030 M.
4. What is the pH of a solution if the [H3O+]= 1.4 x 10-5 M?
pH= -log [H3O+] 5. What is the pH of an HCl solution with molarity of 1.5 x 10 -4

pH= -log [2.5 x 10-6 ]

pH= 5.6
The equation below will allow you to calculate all of the following, given any one of them:
[H3O+], [OH–], pH, pOH.

pH= - log [H3O+]

pOH= −log [OH–]
[H3O+][OH–]= 1 x 10-14
pH + pOH= 14
 In basic solutions, it is the hydroxide ion concentration that is usually important. This concentration can be
expressed as pOH defined in a similar way as pH. pOH= −log [OH–]
[OH–]= 1 x
10-pOH
Sample problem 1 Sample Problem 2

Find the pH and pOH of a 0.001 M HCL solution. If the [OH-] is equal to 0.0001 M, find the pH.

Given: [H3O+]= 0.001 M or 1 x 10-3M Given: [OH-]= 0.00001 M or 1 x 10-5 M

Find: (a) pH and (b) pOH Find: pH
Solution: Solution:
a. Get the pH of the solution. Get the pOH of the solution.
pH= -log [1 x 10-3M] pOH= −log [OH–]
pH= 3 = -log [1 x 10-5 M ]
=5
b. Get the pOH. Get the pH.
pH + pOH= 14 pH= 14 – pOH
pOH= 14 – pH = 14 – 5
= 14 – 3 pH= 9
pOH= 11
Sample problem 3 Calculate the pOH, [H+] and [OH–] of a HCL
solution with a pH of 3.2
Calculate [H+] and [OH–] of a solution from pH and pOH
with pH=12.40 Given: pH= 3.2
Find: pOH, [H+] and [OH–]
Given: pH=12.40
Find: [H+] and [OH–]
Solution:
[H+]= 1 x 10-pH
[H+]= 1 x 10-12.40
= 3.98 x 10-13 M

pH + pOH= 14
14 – 12.40= 1.6
pOH= 1.6

[OH–]= 1 x 10-pOH
[OH–]=1 x 10-1.6
= 0.025 M
Try this:

1. A sodium hydroxide solution has [OH–]= 3.50 x 10-3 M.

What is its pH?

2. What is the pH of a solution having a [OH–] of 2.20 x 10-4 M?

3. Calculate the pH, pOH, [H+], [OH–] of a NaOH solution with

a concentration of 4 x 10-3 M
THANK YOU!