1

Aletta Wessels º Paarl 2015

Grade 11 and 12: Acids and bases

SUMMARY
Grade 11: Acids and bases Gr 11: p. 260 – 269
Study and Master

11: p. 260
THE OXONIUM ION
12: p. 224

+
H3O is the oxonium (hydronium) ion.
–
 Any substance that yields oxonium ions in water, is an acid, e.g. HCℓ: HCℓ + H2O  H3O + Cℓ .
+

+ +

+
The oxonium ion is actually a hydrated H ion: H3O = H (aq)


+
An H ion consist of a single proton.

NOTE: We use the Lowry-Brønsted model in our study

ACIDS of acids and bases.

Strong acids (from strongest) Weak acids

HI hydrogen iodide (hydroioc acid) H2CO3 carbonic acid
HBr hydrogen bromide (hydrobromic acid) CH3COOH acetic acid / ethanoic acid
These 3 are HCℓ hydrochloric acid H3PO4 phosphoric acid
most H2SO4 sulphuric acid (COOH)2 oxalic acid
important. HNO3 nitric acid

 Definition according to Arrhenius: An acid is a substance that produces hydrogen ions

(oxonium ions) when it dissolves in water.
–
HA  H + A
+
 Definition according to Lowry-Brønsted: An acid is a proton donor.
+ +
 An acid is a donor of H ions (releases H ions). HA + H2O  H3O + A
+ –

 Examples of Lowry-Brønsted acids: –

HA  H + A
+
Reaction of acids with water:
– –
HCℓ  Cℓ + H HCℓ + H2O  Cℓ + H3OHA + H2O  H3O+ + A–
+ +
or
– –
H2SO4  HSO4 + H H2SO4 + H2O  HSO4 + H3O
+ +
or
– –
HNO3  NO3 + H HNO3 + H2O  NO3 + H3O
+ +
or

 The reactions of acids in water are ionization. There are no ions in the reactants; new ions
are thus formed in the reaction.

 Most acid base reactions above are reversible. The single arrow () can sometimes be replaced
by a double arrow ().

BASES

 The strong bases are all hydroxides:

Strong bases Weak bases

These 3 are LiOH lithium hydroxide group 1 NH3 ammonia
most NaOH sodium hydroxide metals CaCO3 calcium carbonate
important.
KOH potassium hydroxide K2CO3 potassium carbonate
Ba(OH)2 barium hydroxide group 2 NaHCO3 sodium hydrogen carbonate
Ca(OH)2 calcium hydroxide metals

Group 1 metals are not called alkali metals for nothing!

Group 2 metals are called alkali earth metals.
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 Definition according to Arrhenius: A base is a substance that produces hydroxide ions when it
dissolves in water.

B + H  HB
+ +
 Definition according to Lowry-Brønsted: A base is a proton acceptor.
+
 A base is a receiver of H ions. B + H2O  HB + OH
+ –

 Examples of Lowry-Brønsted bases:

Reaction of bases with water: B + H  HB
+ +

– – –
HPO4 + H  H2PO4 HPO4 + H2O  H2PO4 + B –
2– + 2–
+ H2O  HB + OH
+
or OH
– – –
CO3 + H  HCO3 + H2O  HCO3 + OH
2– + 2–
or CO3

 The reactions of bases in water are dissociation. There are already ions in the reactants; no
new ions are formed in the reaction.

 An alkali is a base that is soluble in water.

11: p. 262
CONJUGATED ACIDS AND BASES
12: p. 226

+
A conjugated base of an acid is the ion or molecule left if the acid donates a H .
–
 When an acid HA loses its proton, its conjugated base, A , is formed.

 acid  H + conjugated base

+

–
e.g. HCℓ  H +
+
Cℓ
–
HCO3  H +
+ 2–
CO3


+
A conjugated acid of a base is the ion or molecule left if the base accepts a H .
–
 When a base A accepts a proton, its conjugated acid, HA, is formed.

 base + H  conjugated acid

+

e.g. NH3 + H 
+ +
NH4
–
CO3 + H 
2– +
HCO3


+
A conjugated acid base pair differs by only H , e.g.:
–
 H2SO4 and HSO4 ;

+
NH4 and NH3.

CONJUGATED ACID AND BASE PAIRS

 An acid and a base react and form conjugated pairs.

When asked to indicate the conjugated acid base
–
 Example: HCℓ + NH3  NH4 + Cℓ
+
pairs, always make a list of the pairs at the end
as well, e.g.:

 Acid: HCℓ  H + Cℓ
+ – HCℓ + NH3  NH4+ + Cℓ–
a1 b2 a2 b1
 NH3 + H  NH4
+ +
Base:
∴ pairs are : ①HCℓ and Cℓ–
–
 HC + NH3  NH4 + Cℓ
+
Net: ②NH3 and NH4+
a1 b2 a2 b1

–
 Conjugated acid base pairs are: ①HCℓ en Cℓ ②NH3 and NH4
+
and

+
H
–
 HCℓ + NH3  NH4 + Cℓ
+ +
H transfer is from HCℓ to NH3:
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IONIZATION OF ACIDS

 When acidic molecules dissolve into water, the molecules have a chemical reaction with the water
molecule and ions are formed in the process. The process is thus called ionization.


+
Acids are called monoprotic, diprotic and triprotic in relation to the number of H ions (protons)
it can donate.

 A Monoprotic is an acid that contains within its molecular structure one hydrogen atom per
molecule capable of ionization in water:

Half reaction Complete reaction with water

– –
HCℓ HCℓ  Cℓ + H HCℓ + H2O  Cℓ + H3O
+ +

– –
HNO3  NO3 + H HNO3 + H2O  NO3 + H3O
+ +
HNO3
– –
CH3COOH  CH3COO + H CH3COOH + H2O  CH3COO + H3O
+ +
CH3COOH
ethanoic acid ethanoate ethanoic acid ethanoate

 A diprotic acid is an acid that contains within its molecular structure two hydrogen atoms per
molecule capable of ionization in water.

Half reaction Complete reaction with water

– –
H2SO4  HSO4 + H2SO4 + H2O  HSO4 +
+ +
H2SO4 H H3O
– –
 SO4 HSO4 + H2O  SO4
2– + 2– +
HSO4 + H + H3 O
∴ H2SO4  SO4 ∴ H2SO4 + 2H2O  SO4
2– + 2– +
+ 2H + 2H3O
– –
H2CO3  HCO3 + H2CO3 + H2O  HCO3 +
+ +
H2CO3 H H3O
– –
 CO3 HCO3 + H2O  CO3
2– + 2– +
HCO3 + H + H3 O
∴ H2CO3  CO3 ∴ H2CO3 + 2H2O  CO3
2– + 2– +
+ 2H + 2H3O
(COOH)2 – –
(COOH)2  H(COO)2 + H  H(COO)2 + H3O
+ +
(COOH)2 + H2O
– 2– – 2–
H(COO)2  (COO)2 + H  (COO)2 + H3O
+ +
H(COO)2 + H2O
2– 2–
(COOH)2  (COO)2 + 2H (COOH)2 + 2H2O  (COO)2 + 2H3O
+ +

oxalic acid oxalate* oxalic acid oxalate*

2– –
* Oxalate can be written as (COO)2 or (COO )2
Oxalate has a valency of 2-

 A Triprotic acid is an acid that contains within its molecular structure three hydrogen atoms per
molecule capable of ionization in water:

Half reaction Complete reaction with water

– –
 H2PO4 + H3PO4 + H2O  H2PO4 + H3O
+ +
H3PO4 H3PO4 H
– –
 HPO4 H2PO4 + H2O  HPO4
2– + 2– +
H2PO4 + H + H3O
 PO4 + H2O  PO4
2– 3– + 2– 3– +
HPO4 + H HPO4 + H3 O
 ∴ H3PO4 + 3H2O  PO4 + 3H3O
3– + 3– +
∴ H3PO4 PO4 + 3H
phosphoric acid phosphate phosphoric acid phosphate

DISSOCIATION OF BASES

 When basic salts (usually hydroxides) dissolves in water, a physical process with water and takes
place and existing ions are separated in the process. Therefore the process is called
dissociation.
+ ─
E.g. NaOH (s) → Na (aq) + OH (aq)
2+ ─
Ba(OH)2 (s) → Ba (aq) + 2OH (aq)

(The solubility of the hydroxide thus determines the strength as a base. That is the reason why
Mg(OH)2 is not a strong base – Mg(OH)2 is only partailly soluble in water.)
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11: p. 262
AMPHOLYTES
12: p. 226
 A substance is amphiprotic or an ampholyte if the substance can act both as an acid and a
base.

 Example: H2O is an ampholyte:

–
 H2O  H + OH
+
H2O acts as an acid:

 H2O + H  H3O
+ +
H2O acts as a base:
+
H
–
 H2O + H2O  OH + H3O
+
H2O undergoes auto-ionization:
a1 b2 b1 a2
– – –

2–
More ampholytes: HCO3 ; HSO4 ; H2PO4 ; HPO4 .

12: p. 233 STRONG AND WEAK ACIDS AND BASES

STRONG ACID WEAK ACID

Definition: Ionizes completely and Definition: Ionizes INcompletely and
+ +
produces high concentration H ions produces low concentration H ions

Ionization in  Ionizes almost completely  Ionizes incompletely

water  Ionization is only forward  Ionization is reversible
–
 e.g. HCℓ + H2O  Cℓ + H3O  e.g. H2CO3 + H2O  CO32– +2H3O
+

+
[H ] high low

pH low (1 – 2) high (but lower than 7)

Conductivity good electrolyte (produces high weak electrolyte (produces low

concentration of free ions) concentration of free ions)

Rate of high rate low rate

reaction with e.g. Zn + 2HCℓ  ZnCℓ2 + H2 e.g. Zn + H2CO3  ZnCO3 + H2
other reactants has high rate, because of high [H+] +
has low rate, because of low [H ]

Examples HCℓ hydrochloric acid H2CO3 carbonic acid

H2SO4 sulphuric acid CH3COOH acetic acid / ethanoic acid
HNO3 nitric acid H3PO4 phosphoric acid
HI, HBr (COOH)2 oxalic acid

STRONG BASE WEAK BASE

Definition: Dissociates completely and Definition: Dissociates Incompletely and
produces high concentration OH− ions produces low concentration OH− ions

Dissociation in  Dissociates almost completely  Dissociates incompletely

water  Dissociation is only forward  Dissociation is reversible
– –
 e.g. NaOH  Na + OH  e.g. Mg(OH)2  Mg + 2OH
+ 2+

–
[OH ] high low

pH high (12 – 14) low (but higher than 7)

Examples LiOH lithium hydroxide NH3 ammonia

NaOH sodium hydroxide CaCO3 calcium carbonate
KOH potassium hydroxide K2CO3 potassium carbonate
Ba(OH)2 barium hydroxide NaHCO3 sodium hydrogen carbonate
Ca(OH)2 calcium hydroxide
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12: p. 234  An acid/base is concentrated if it contains ‘n large amount of acid/base in proportion to the
volume of water.
 An acid/base is diluted if it contains ‘n small amount of acid/base in proportion to the volume of
water.

 A acid/base can both be concentrated (not much water) or diluted (much water).
 A weak acid/base can both be concentrated (not much water) or diluted (much water).
11: p. 264
12: p. 228 REACTIONS OF ACIDS

TYPE EXAMPLE

METAL + acid  salt + H2 Zn + 2HCℓ  ZnCℓ2 + H2

–
 The reaction above is not an acid base reaction, but redox (transfer of e ).


+
The following 5 reactions are true acid base reactions (transfer of p ).

TYPE EXAMPLE NET IONIC

EQUATION
–
OH + H  H2O
+
HIDROXIDE + acid  salt + H2O NaOH + HCℓ  NaCℓ + H2O –
(OH + H3O  H2O +
+

H2O)

OXIDE + acid  salt + H2O CuO + H2SO4  CuSO4 + H2O

CARBONATE + acid  salt + CO2 + H2O Na2CO3 + H2SO4  Na2SO4 +

CO2 + H2O

BICARBONATE + acid  salt + CO2 + H2O NaHCO3 + HCℓ  NaCℓ + CO2 +

(hydrogen carbonate) H2O

AMMONIA + acid  salt NH3 + HCℓ  NH4Cℓ NH3 + H  NH4

+ +

SALTS

 The names of salts are derived from the acids they originate from.

ACID SALT EXAMPLE

H+ that are donated

–
are printed in bold.

HCℓ hydrochloric acid Cℓ chloride NaOH + HCℓ  NaCℓ + H2O

2–
H2SO4 sulphuric acid SO4 sulphate 2NaOH + H2SO4  Na2SO4 + 2H2O
–
HNO3 nitric acid NO3 nitrate NaOH + HNO3  NaNO3 + H2O
2–
H2CO3 carbonic acid CO3 carbonate 2NaOH + H2CO3  Na2CO3 + 2H2O
–
CH3COOH acetic acid / CH3COO ethanoate NaOH + CH3COOH  CH3COONa + H2O
ethanoic acid
3–
H3PO4 phosphoric acid PO4 phosphate 3NaOH + H3PO4  Na3PO4 + 3H2O
–
(COOH)2 oxalic acid (COO )2 / oxalate 2NaOH + (COOH)2  (COO)2Na2 + 2H2O
(COO)2–
2

11: p. 268
pH
12: p. 234
 The pH scale is an indication of the acidity (or alkalinity) of a substance.

 pH is a scale between 0 and 14.

(pH can be negative, and also greater than 14, but we work between 0 and 14.)
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0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
acid base

weak base
weak acid

strong base
strong acid

neutral
INDICATORS

 An indicator indicates the presence of an acid and a base because of the different colour it has in
each.

INDICATOR COLOUR (IN COLOUR IN ACID COLOUR IN BASE

NEUTRAL)
bromothymol blue blue yellow blue
phenolphthalein colourless colourless pink
methyl orange orange red* yellow*
*Colour varies from red (strong acid) to yellow (strong base). (E.g. Reddish orange
for weak acid, yellowish orange for weak base.)

12: p. 236 STOICHIOMETRY AND TITRATIONS

 A standard solution is a solution of known concentration that is accurately prepared.

𝐧 𝐦 or 𝐦
c= with n= c=
𝐕 𝐌 𝐌𝐕

 An acid of unknown concentration can be standardized by titration with a base of known

concentration ( a standard solution). Similarly, a base of unknown concentration can be
standardized by titration with an acid of known concentration ( a standard solution).

 Neutralization is used in titrations: Neutralization is the reaction between an acid and a base to
form a salt and water.

 Consider the neutralization between a base and an acid: nb base + na acid  salt + H2O

 With both the base and acid in solution: nb and na are

balancing numbers

𝐜𝐚 𝐕𝐚 𝐧𝐚 𝐜𝐛 𝐕𝐛 𝐧𝐛
= or
=
𝐜𝐛 𝐕𝐛 𝐧𝐛 𝐜𝐚 𝐕𝐚 𝐧𝐚
‒3
 The unit for concentration is mol.dm .
3 3 3
 Usually the volumes are given in cm . It may be used in cm or dm in the equation, as
long as the units of Va and Vb are the same.

 With the base in solid form (not in solution):

nb base + na acid  salt + H2O

mb
nb = na = caVa
Mb

𝐦
 Now the number of moles of the base is calculated with n = , not with n = cV .
𝐌

mℓ ÷ 1000 L
3
 Very important: Now Va MUST be measured in dm !

cm3 ÷ 1000 dm3

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 Dilution: When a solution with a certain concentration is diluted with the addition of water to a
new concentration, the number of moles in the two solutions are equal:

ndiluted = ncons This formula is

NOT on your data
 (cV)diluted = (cV)cons sheet.

12: p. 236 EQUIVALENCE AND END POINT

 The equivalence point of a titration is the point at which the acid/base has completely reacted
with the base/acid.

 The end point of a titration is the point where the indicator changes colour.

 Choose the indicator by comparing the relative strength of the acid and base.

INDICATOR COLOUR COLOUR pH RANGE

IN ACID IN BASE

strong a + strong b
weak a + weak b bromothymol blue yellow blue 7,2 – 8,8 (neutral)

weak a + strong b phenolphthalein colourless pink 8,3 – 10 (basic)

strong a + weak b methyl orange red yellow 3,1 – 4,6 (acidic)

 Titrations may be examined as an experimental procedure. The following questions may be

asked:
 List the apparatus needed or identify the apparatus from a diagram.
 Describe the procedure to prepare a standard solution.
 Describe the procedure to conduct the titration.
 Describe safety precautions.
 Describe measures that need to be in place to ensure reliable results.
 Interpret given results to determine the unknown concentration.

(Notes on this are handed out after the formal assessment is completed.)

PERCENTAGE PURITY

 When a solid base is impure (and is part of an impure mixture), it is assumed that only the pure
basis in the mix is involved in the neutralization with an acid. A titration with a standard acid
solution can therefore be used to calculate the percentage purity of the base.

 Calculate the pure mass of base that neutralizes the acid.

nb base + na acid  salt + ...... mℓ ÷ 1000 L

mb = nbMb na = caVa cm3 ÷ 1000 dm3

 Now find the ratio of pure mass to impure mass as a percentage.

pure mass of base This formula is
% purity = x 100 NOT on your data
impure mass of base sheet.

 Remember in the calculation of percentage purity, the impure mass may NEVER be used in the
stoichiometry.
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SUMMARY
Grade 12: Acids and bases Gr 12: p. 223 - 246
Study and Master

12: p. 227 HYDROLYSIS OF SALTS

 The salt that is formed in a neutralization reaction should be neutral, with a pH equal to 7. But if
the acid is much stronger than the base, or the base is much stronger than the acid, the pH is not
7, but just above or below 7.

 If the acid is much stronger than the base, the salt is acidic, with a pH just lower than 7.

 If the base is much stronger than the acid, the salt is alkaline/basic, with a pH just higher than 7.

 A salt that is either acidic or alkaline reacts with water. The process is called hydrolysis.
Acidic salt Alkaline salt
NH4Cℓ ammonium chloride Na2CO3 sodium carbonate There are many such
salts; you only have to
CH3COONa sodium ethanoate know these four.
(COO)2Na2 sodium oxalate

pH of Example Hydrolysis of salt

salt
strong a NaOH + HCℓ  NaCℓ + H2O none
7
+ 2KOH + H2SO4  K2SO4 + 2H2O none
(neutral)
strong b LiOH + HNO3  LiNO3 + H2O none
strong a <7
NH3 + HCℓ  NH4Cℓ NH4 + H2O  NH3 + H3O
+ +
+ (acidic)
weak b
– –
2NaOH + H2CO3  Na2CO3 + 2H2O CO3 + H2O  HCO3 + OH
2–
weak a >7 LEARN!
– –
+ NaOH + CH3COOH  CH3COONa + H2O CH3COO + H2O  CH3COOH + OH LEARN!
(alkaline) – –
strong b 2NaOH + (COOH)2  (COOH)2Na2 + 2H2O (COO )2 + 2H2O  (COOH)2 + 2OH

 When explaining the choice of pH for a salt, always state the reasons in 3 steps, e.g. NH4Cℓ:
 NH4Cℓ is formed by strong acid (HCℓ), and weak base (NH3).
 ∴ NH4Cℓ is acidic
 ∴ NH4Cℓ undergoes hydrolysis.

 Consider the special case: Na2CO3(weak base) + 2HCℓ (strong acid)  2NaCℓ + H2O + CO2
 Although NaCℓ is prepared between a weak base and strong acid, it still is a neutral salt! It is
ALWAYS a neutral salt. (When the acidity or alkalinity of salts is investigated, one ALWAYS
looks at which hydroxide and acid is used to prepare the salt, irrespective of the reaction in
that specific case.)
 BUT methyl orange is still chosen as indicator. The mixture at the equivalence point is acidic,
although the salt is neutral. The other products, CO2 and H2O, form carbonic acid, which
turns the mixture at the equivalence point acidic (CO2 + H2O  H2CO3).

12: p. 241 IONIC PRODUCT OF WATER

 Water is amphiprotic and undergoes outo-ionization, that is the reaction of water with itself to
form H3O and OH– ions:
+

H2O  H + OH– H2O + H2O  H3O + OH–

+ +
or

 For the equation above the equilibrium constant (Kw) (at 25 °C) is:
+ – –14
Kw = [H ] [OH ] = 1 x 10

– –7

+ -3
For neutral solutions: [H3O ] = [OH ] = 10 mol.dm
–

+
For acidic solutions: [H3O ] > [OH ]
–

+
For alkaline solutions: [H3O ] < [OH ]
 9

 Kw is a very small number; that means that a very small number of water molecules actually does
ionize.

 Definition of Kw:

 the equilibrium constant of the ionization of water;

 the ionic product of water;
 ionization constant of water.
–

+
The graph of [H3O ] versus [OH ] is a hyperbola:

+ –
[H3O ] [OH ]
or
– +
[OH ] [H3O ]

12: p. 242 CALCULATION OF pH


+
The pH of a solution is calculated from the [H3O ].
+
pH= ─ log[H3O ]


+
Calculate the [H ] with:
𝐧 𝐦 𝐦
c= with n= c=
𝐕 𝐌 𝐌𝐕

 CALCULATE THE pH OF ACIDS:


+
Step 1: Calculate [H3O ]: Remember:
–
e.g. HCl  H + Cl
+ +
 Monoprotic: [H3O ] = [acid] + +
H3O = H (aq)
e.g. H2SO4  2H + SO4
+ + 2–
 Diprotic: [H3O ] = 2 x [acid]

 Step 2: Calculate pH:

+
 pH= ─ log[H3O ]

 CALCULATE THE pH OF BASES:

–
 Step 1: Calculate the [OH ]:
– –
e.g. NaOH  Na + OH
+
 “mono”: [OH ] = [base]
– –
e.g. Ba(OH)2  Ba + 2OH
2+
 “di”: [OH ] = 2 x [base]


+
Step 2: Calculate [H3O ] with the ionic product:
+ 10−14
 [H3O ] =
[OH− ]

 Step 3: Calculate pH:

+
 pH= ─ log[H3O ]

NOTES:
 pH is NOT the real indication of the strength of an acid, ONLY the degree of ionization.
(Remember the definition of strong acid: an acid that ionizes completely.) When a strong acid is
+ +
much diluted, the [H3O ] is low. That influences the pH: pH= ─ log[H3O ].
–3
0,1 mol.dm HCℓ Ionizes completely: pH = 1
–
HCℓ + H2O  Cℓ + H3O
+
(strong and concentrated)
–3
0,001 mol.dm HCℓ Ionizes completely: pH = 3
–
HCℓ + H2O  Cℓ + H3O
+
(strong and diluted)
 10

 pH is an indication of the strength on an acid only when the same type of acid (∴ all monoprotic or
diprotic) is compared at the same concentration. Then the lowest pH is the strongest acid.
–3
0,1 mol.dm HCℓ Ionizes completely: pH = 1
–
HCℓ + H2O  Cℓ + H3O
+
(strong and monoprotic)
+ + ‒3
produces high [H3O ]: [H3O ] = 0,1 mol.dm
–3
0,1 mol.dm CH3COOH Ionizes INcompletely: pH > 1 (± 3)
–
CH3COOH + H2O  CH3COO + H3O
+
(weak and monoprotic)
+ + ‒3
produces low [H3O ]: [H3O ] < 0,1 mol.dm

 All strong acid at the same concentrations do not have the same pH!
–3
0,1 mol.dm HCℓ Ionizes completely: pH = 1
–
HCℓ + H2O  Cℓ + H3O
+
(strong and monoprotic)
+ –3
[H3O ] = [aid] = 0,1 mol.dm
–3
0,1 mol.dm H2SO4 Ionizes completely: pH = 0,7
–
H2SO4 + 2H2O  SO4 + H3O
+
(strong and diprotic) (< 1)!
+ –3
[H3O ] = 2 x [acid] = 0,2 mol.dm

This section will be discussed in grade 12, after the chapter on Chemical Equilibrium.

ACIDS AND EQUILIBRIUM

INDICATORS

12: p. 235  An indicator is a weak acid that is in equilibrium with its conjugated base. The acid and its
conjugated base have different colors. A typical reaction can be illustrated as follows, where the
indicator is respresented as HIn proposal, in this case bromothymol:

acid conjugated base

─
HIn + H2O  H3O
+
+ In
yellow blue


+
When the indicator is added to an acid, the [H3O ] increases and the reverse reaction is
favored. The color changes from blue to yellow.

+
When the indicator is added to a base, the [H3O ] decreases and the forward reaction is
favored. The color changes from yellow to blue.

12: p. 245 Ka

 An acid ionizes in water:

–
HA(aq) + H2O(ℓ)  H3O +(aq) + A (aq)
+

–
e.g. HCℓ(aq) + H2O (ℓ) 
+
H3O (aq) + Cℓ (aq)

 The acid ionization constant (Ka) is the equilibrium constant:

[𝐇𝟑 𝐎+ ][𝐀− ]
Ka =
[𝐇𝐀]

 Ka is a measure of the relative strength of the acid:

 A Ka–value > 1 shows that the reaction is product driven, ∴ a “complete ionization”.
 A large Ka indicates a strong acid; a low Ka indicates a weak acid.
 Strong acid has very high Ka values (e.g. Ka of HCℓ is 1,3 x 10 ); acids with Ka values lower
6

than 1 is considered weak.

 H3O is the strongest acid that exists in water.
+
 11

 Strong acid ionize completely – therefore Ka is the real indication of a strong acid, and not pH
or concentration.
‒3
 Therefore a strong monoprotic acid concentration 0,01 mol.dm has a pH of 2.
(–log 0,01 = 2).
‒3
 But a weak monoprotic acid with concentration 0,01 mol.dm does NOT have a pH of 2, but
higher!
(We only calculate pH of strong acids though.)

Kb

 A base dissociates in water:

–
B(aq) + H2O(ℓ)  HB (ℓ) + OH (aq)
+

–
e.g. NH3(g) + H2O(ℓ)  NH4 (aq) + OH (aq)
+

 The basic dissociation constant (Kb) is the equilibrium constant:

[𝐇𝐁+ ][𝐎𝐇− ]
Kb =
[𝐁]

 Kb is a measure of the relative strength of the base:

 A large Kb indicates a strong base; a low Kb indicates a weak base.
–
 OH is the strongest base that exists in water.

Remarks:

 Equilibrium is involved when we work with Ka and Kb . (Remember Ka and Kb are actually special
Kc values). Remember in a reaction of proton transfer there are two complete acid-base
reactions: one is the forward reaction and the other the reverse reaction.

 Therefore a Ka > 1 indicates a product driven reaction; therefore at equilibrium there are
more product than reactants. The acid on the reactant side is therefore stronger than the acid
on the product side.
 A Ka < 1 indicates a reaction driven reaction; therefore at equilibrium there are more
reactants than product. The acid on the product side is therefore stronger than the acid on the
reactant side.

 E.g. in the reaction below Ka > 1. That means that the equilibrium position “lies to the right”.
Therefore H3PO4 is a stronger acid than H2CO3.
– –
H3PO4 + HCO3  H2PO4 + H2CO3 ; Ka > 1
a b b a
equilibrium position