Acid-base equilibria

ACID-BASE EQUILIBRIA
Everyone will simply define an acid as a substance that neutralises a base to form a salt and water.
A better definition of an acid is a substance that releases hydrogen ions. Examples are illustrated
below.
Name of acid
Hydrochloric acid
Nitric acid
Sulphuric acid
Ethanoic acid

Formula
HCl
HNO3
H2SO4
CH3COOH

Ionisation equation of acid in water

HCl(aq) H+(aq) + Cl-(aq).
HNO3(aq) H+(aq) + NO3-(aq).
H2SO4(aq) 2H+(aq) + SO4-(aq).
CH3COOH(aq) H+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq).

Brnsted-Lowry theories of acids and bases

According Brnsted Lowry, an acid is defined as a proton donor,
A base is defined as a proton acceptor.
In the reaction: HCl(g) + H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + Cl-(aq), HCl is a Brnsted-Lowry acid since it donates a
proton and H2O, a Brnsted-Lowry base since it accepts a proton.
In the reaction: NH3(g) + H2O(l) NH4+(aq) + OH-(aq), H2O is a Brnsted-Lowry acid since it donates
a proton and NH3, a Brnsted-Lowry base since it accepts a proton. Thus Brnsted-Lowry acid-base
theory involves proton transfer.
Substances such as water which can donate or accept protons are called amphoteric substances.
The equilibrium: HClO4 + CH3COOH ClO4- + CH3COOH2+, takes place in an inert solvent. In
the reaction, HClO4 is a Brnsted-Lowry acid since it donates a proton and CH 3COOH, a BrnstedLowry base since it accepts a proton.
When concentrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and concentrated nitric acid (HNO3) are mixed, the
equilibrium reaction below takes place.
H2SO4 + HNO3 HSO4- + H2NO3+,
Conjugate acids and conjugate bases
When an acid loses a proton, it produces its conjugate base. When a base gains a proton, it produces its
conjugate acid (Brnsted-Lowry acid base theory).
ACID
PROTON + CONJUGATE BASE.
CH3COOH(aq)
H+(aq) + CH3COO(aq).
BASE
+ PROTON CONJUGATE ACID.
HCO3(aq) +
H+

H2CO3(aq).
Definition: A conjugate acid-base pair is defined as any two chemical species capable of accepting
or losing a proton and differ in composition by a hydrogen atom and charge.
The table below gives some acids and their respective conjugate bases
Acid
Conjugate base

HCO3
CO32
H2CO3
HCO3
+
CH3OH2
CH3OH
HCl
Cl
Definition: A conjugate acid is defined as any chemical species formed when a base gains a proton.
When the base NH3 gains a proton, it forms the conjugate acid NH4+.
Definition: A conjugate base is defined as any chemical species formed when an acid loses a proton.
When the acid C6H5OH loses a proton, it forms the conjugate base C6H5O .

The table below gives some acids-base reactions and the conjugate acid-base pairs
Conjugate acid-base pairs
1 pair
2nd pair
+

+
HCl(aq) + NH3 NH4 + Cl (aq).
NH4 and NH3
HCl and Cl
+

HNO3(aq) + CH3OH CH3OH2 + NO3

HNO3 and NO3
CH3OH2+ and CH3OH
HNO3(aq) + H2SO4 H2NO3+ + HSO4
H2NO3+ and HNO3
H2SO4 and HSO4
+

+
NH3 + H2O NH4 + OH (aq).
NH4 and NH3
H2O and OH
Any of the pairs on the table could be considered first pair and the other second pair. The species
H2NO3+ usually exits in a mixture NO2+ and H2O. In each pair on the table, the first species is the
second species is the base.
Reaction

st

Strength of acids
Acids can be classified as strong or weak acids.
Definition:A strong acid is an acid that dissociates almost completely in solution.
Examples are HCl, HNO3, H2SO4. The dissociation of a strong acid such as HCl acid is represented as:
HCl(g) + H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + Cl-(aq), or simply HCl(aq) H+(aq) + Cl-(aq).
Definition: A weak acid is an acid that dissociates partially in solution.
Examples are CH3COOH, HCN, H2S. The dissociation of a weak acid such as CH 3COOH acid is
represented as:
CH3COOH(l) + H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq), or simply CH3COOH(aq) H+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq).
Thus the strength of an acid is the tendency with which the acid releases a proton in solution.
Strength of bases
Bases can be classified as strong or weak bases.
Definition:A strong base is a base that dissociates almost completely in solution.
Examples are NaOH, KOH. The dissociation of a strong base such as NaOH is represented as:
NaOH(s) + aq Na+(aq) + OH-(aq).
Definition: A weak base is a base that dissociates partially in solution.
Examples are NH3, CH3NH2. The dissociation of a weak base such as NH3 is represented as:
CH3COOH(l) + H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq), or simply CH3COOH(aq) H+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq).
H3O+ is called an oxonium ion.
Thus the strength of an acid is the tendency with which the acid releases a proton in solution.
The pH of equal molar concentration of two or acids could be used to compare their strength.
Assignment:
End of Chap page 7 page 152