Acids and Bases : Factors that Affect the Relative Strengths of Acids and Bases

There are three factors that affect the acidity of the generic bond X-H in a nonmetal hydride.

1. The POLARITY of the X-H bond

If all other factors are constant, the polarity of the X-H bond is directly proportional to the strength of the acid. Polarity is measured by the difference in electronegativities between the atoms in a bond. When an acid dissociates in water, the X-H bond is bro en to form the ions H! and X- ions. The greater the polarity of the bond, the easier it is to form these ions, and thus the stronger the acid. Formula H" H$* ,H.H( Ka value #.$ % &'-( &.) % &'-&+ & % &'--& % &'-(/ E &.) &.$ '.) '.(

!. The "I#E of the X atom

The strength of acids increases is directly proportional to the si0e of the X atom increases because the strength of the X-H bond diminishes as the si0e of the X atom increases. The relative strengths of the X-H bond in various compounds can be compared by measuring the bond-dissociation enthalpy. $ond-d%&&o'%at%on enthal() *$+E, - The amount of energy re1uired to brea a bond, specifically in the gas phase of a compound. Formula H" H.l H7r HI Ka value #.$ % &'-( & % &'+ & % &'/ - % &'/ $+E 2 34mol5 6+/ (-& -#' -''

-. The .HAR/E on the a'%d or ba&e

.ompounds becomes less acidic as the negative charge increases. .onversely, compounds become more basic as the negative charge increses.

 This can be e%plained by the fact that it is easier to remove a positive ion 2H!5 from a neutral atom or molecule than a negatively charged one because the force of attraction between the positive and negative particles hinders the separation of the oppositely charged particles. 7ases 2H! acceptors5 become stronger as their negative charge increases because they have a stronger force of attraction for pulling in e%tra H! ions.

Formula H-P*( H$P*(HP*($P*(--

(H &.6 (.( /.&$.'

The OXI+ATIO "TATE of the 'entral atom

When the polarity, si0e, and charge of two compounds are all the same 2e.g. when comparing the strengths of o%yacids of the same element5 we must find another way to measure the relative strengths of these acids. O0)a'%d - 8n acid in which the acidic hydrogen atoms are attached to an o%ygen atom 9%amples of o%yacids of the same element: H$;*( 2sulfuric acid5 and H$;*- 2sulfurous acid5 H,*- 2nitric acid5 and H,*$ 2nitrous acid5 8s the o%idation state of the central atom in an o%yacid increases, the strength of the acid increases significantly. 8s the o%idation state of an atom increases, its tendency to draw electrons in a bond toward itself increases. In an o%yacid, the central atom pulls electrons away from the o%ygen, conse1uently ma ing the o%ygen more electronegative. The *-H bond, therefore becomes more polar, ma ing it easier to form ions and thus increasing the strength of the acid. O0)a'%d H.l* H.l*$ H.l*H.l*( Ka value $./ % &'-) &.& % &'-$ 6.' % &'$ & % &'O0%dat%on 1of .l !& !!6 !#