Study Guide – Chemistry II Exam III

Buffers

– Solution with a very stable pH.

– Reason it works: if you add acid in (+H+ ions) the conjugate base will
absorb it, but if you add base in a buffer, the weak acid will give off some
H+ ions to neutralize the OH-.
– Adding acid or base to solution will not greatly affect the pH.
– If diluted with water or evaporation of water, the pH of buffer will remain
the same.
– A weak acid and its conjugate base can reamin in solution together
without neutralizing each other.
– Henderson-Hasselbalch equation pH = pKa + log (base/acid)
– Form with only weak acid or base
– When the conjugate of the weak acid or base is in substantial amount of
the weak acid or base itself.

Some Important Strong acids: HCl, HBr, HI, HNO3, HClO4, H2SO4

– Interesting fact: Strong acids are expected to ionize completely, be a good

conductor, liberate heat when neutralized with strong base (exothermic),
give low pH

Some Important Strong Bses: LiOH, NaOH, KOH, Ba(OH)2, Sr(OH)2

Polyprotic acid: acids that can give up more than one hydrogen ion. (H2SO4, H3PO4)

Amprotic: A substance that can act as either acid or base

Ie H2O  OH- + H+

H2PO4-  HPO4-2 + H+ or H2PO4- + H+ H3PO4

Amphoteric: When a substance is more soluble in either acid or basic conditions

Equivalence point: When exactly enough base has been added to neutralize all
the acid that was initially present (this is not when the solution is neutral!!!) Its pH
at this point can be 7, but can be something else!!

For buffers, the middle of the buffer region is the half-equivalence point pH = pKa
(for acid). Double the volume of the base or acid that is being added, that is the
equivalence point.

Titration
pH at eq
start with titrate with point
Weak acid Strong base >7
Strong acid Strong base 7
Strong base Strong acid 7
 Weak base Strong acid <7

Solubility – quick overview

Q = K equilibrium

Q < K unsaturated

Q > K supersaturated, precipitation will form.

Thermodynamics

As temperature goes up, entropy goes up

Spontaneous and non-spontaneous depends on the balance of entropically

favorable and/or energetic favorable.

– ∆S = positive is favorable : think about your room, it prefers to be messy

– ΔH= negative is favorable: negative delta H = exothermic. (remember
endothermic REQUIRES energy)

ΔG=ΔH-TΔS

**this table is important**

delta delta delta

H S T G condition
always
- + any - spontaneous
never
+ - any + spontaneous
+ + low + not spontaneous
+ + high - spontaneous
- - low - spontaneous
- - high + Not spontaneous

If you need more help, feel free to contact me, I’ll try to respond as soon as
possible. If enough people need more help, I can meet with you guys on Wednesday.

mwu@mines.edu

The answer key, practice test, review guide are all posted online: