for question = 1 question utions in wate 7 A ‘1 its This is a constant for all aqueous equilibria involving weak acids. Therefore, value can be incorporated into the equilibrium expression: _ TOUT Rae 55.6= Ta K, = Kiyue X 55.6 Base dissociation constant, K, An aqueous solution of a,jyeakebasesissimequilibriumiwithiits!conjugatelacid, for example: NH + H,0 = NH,* + OH The expression for the base dissociation constant, Kp, is: [NH,“][OH7] [NH] As with weak-acidss[HsO}"is omitted from the expression becausesitsivalliélis constant in aqueous equilibria involving weak bases. > Auto-ionisation of water and the PH scale Water is amphoteric. It can act as both: aybase, as in its reaction with hydrogen chloride, or.as;amaeid, as in its reaction with ammonia. The amphotericnaturevofwater is even eyident in the absenceofranotheracid grbase. One molecule of water can protonate another molecule of water: K= H,0 + H,0 = H,0* + OH acid base conjugate acid conjugate base The equilibrium constant for this reaction is given the symbol K,. The equilib- tium expression does not include the term [HO] because its value is constant. K,= [H30°] [0H] This is often written as K,, = {H*][OH7}. K,-is also called the ionic product of water. Its value, at 25°C, is 1.0x 10" mol? dm~. In any aqueous solution, the value of (H*] x [OH"] always equals Ky, the value of which is 1.0 x 10- mol? dm’ at 25°C, 1.0 x 10-# (H*] For an acidic solution containing 1.0 x 10-3 moldm=3 of 10x 10-4 [OH] = Toxi10> = 10x10" moldm? Thus [OH-] = H*(aq) ions, —_ Chapter 5: Acid-base equilibria