2.

3 Acid−Base Strength and Salts

Problems Worksheet

1. Acids can be classified as strong or weak.

a. List three strong acids and their formulas.

b. List four weak acids and their formulas.

c. HBr has an acid ionisation constant (Ka) value of 1.0 x 109. How would you classify this acid?

2. Explain the difference between a strong and a weak acid.

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 3. Write a hydrolysis equation for the following acids and bases:
a. HNO3

b. H2SO3

c. NH3

4. Acetic acid is a weak acid with a Ka value of 1.8 x 10−5.

a. Write a hydrolysis equation for acetic acid.

b. Write the equilibrium constant expression.

c. Explain what the acid ionisation constant (Ka) tells us about acetic acid.

d. Compare the strength of acetic acid with oxalic acid, which has a Ka value of 5.4 x 10−2.

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 5. Sulfurous acid is a diprotic acid with a Ka value of 1.3 x 10−2.
a. A 0.1 mol.L−1 solution is found to have a concentration of H3O+ much lower than 0.1 mol.L−1.
Explain this observation.

b. Write equations for the successive ionisations of sulfurous acid.

c. The Ka value for HSO3− is 6.3 x 10−8. Why does the acid ionisation constant (Ka) decrease for
successive ionisations of polyprotic acids?

6. A solution of ammonia is neutralised with a solution of nitric acid, and the resulting solution is evaporated
to leave a white salt. Explain whether the resulting salt is acidic, basic or neutral, including any relevant
equations.

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 7. For each of the following salts, state whether it is acidic, basic or neutral. Where the salt is acidic or basic,
write a hydrolysis equation to explain how it is acidic or basic.

a. NaHSO4

b. KH2PO4

c. MgSO4

d. Na2HPO4

e. NH4NO3

f. Na2CO3

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 Ion Ka
8. The table shows the acid ionisation constant for some different ions.
NH4+ 5.8 x 10−10
a. What information does the Ka value provide? HCO3− 4.7 x 10−11
H2PO4− 6.3 x 10−8
HPO42− 4.2 x 10−13
HSO4− 1.0 x 10−2

b. List the ions in order of decreasing acidity.

Hydrogen carbonate (HCO3−) has a base dissociation constant (Kb) value of 2.3 x 10−8.

c. Will hydrogen carbonate be acidic or basic in solution?

d. Write an equation to show how hydrogen carbonate behaves in solution.

e. Write an equilibrium constant expression for the process.

f. Ammonium hydrogen carbonate can be used as a rising agent in cooking. It has largely been
replaced by sodium hydrogen carbonate in the west, but is still used for this purpose in some
parts of the world. Predict whether NH4HCO3 will produce an acidic or alkaline (basic) solution
and explain how you reached your conclusion.

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 9. Arsenic acid (H3AsO4) is a weak triprotic acid. The Ka values for its three ionisations are 6.0 x 10−3,
1.1 x 10−7, and 3.0 x 10−12 respectively. Determine whether the dihydrogen arsenate ion (H2AsO4−) is acid
or alkaline.

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