CHAPTER 12

ACID-BASE EQUILIBRIA AND SALT EQUILIBRIA

CONCEPT MAP

Source: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/mind-map-for-aqa-a-level-acids-bases-and-buffers-11540242

LEARNING COMPETENCIES
1. Define Bronsted acids and bases.
2. Discuss the acid-base property of water
3. Define pH
4. Calculate pH from the concentration of hydrogen ion or hydroxide ions in aqueous
solutions
5. Determine the relative strength of an acid or a base, from the value of the ionization
constant of a weak acid or base
6. Determine the pH of a solution of weak acid or weak base
7. Explain the Common Ion Effect
8. Describe how a buffer solution maintains its pH
9. Calculate the pH of a buffer solution using the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
10. Explain and apply the solubility product constant to predict the solubility of salts
11. Describe the common ion effect on the solubility of a precipitate
Chapter 12: Acid-Base Equilibria and Salt Equilibria

12. Explain the effect of pH on the solubility of a precipitate

In the field of chemistry, one of the most seen equilibria content include acid-base
reactions involving the exchange of molecules, namely the base and acid, wherein the
acids are the donor molecules and the bases are the acceptors.
Bronsted-Lowry Acid Base Theory
The Bronsted-Lowry theory states that acid-base interactions in terms of proton
transfer between chemical species. A Bronsted-Lowry acid can find in any species that
can donate a proton H+. The Bronsted-Lowry theory describes acid-base interactions in
terms of proton transfer between chemical species. A Bronsted-Lowry acid is any species
that can donate a proton, H+.
H+ and a base is any species that can accept a proton. In terms of chemical
structure, this means that any Bronsted-Lowry acid must contain a hydrogen that can
dissociate as H+. In order to accept a proton, a Bronsted-Lowry base must have at least
one lone pair of electrons to form a new bond with a proton.
Acid/Base Properties of Water
 Water is amphoteric, it acts as both acid and a base
 An acid is a substance that donates proton
 A base is a substance that accepts a proton
 When with a base water acts like an acid
 When with an acid water acts like a base
 Water has the ability to autoionize
 One water molecule can donate a proton to another water molecule
 Water ionizes for a very brief amount of time and only 2 out of every 109 molecules
are ionized
 This process only occurs at 25℃
pH of a Solution of Weak Acid or Weak Base
The pH means “power of hydrogen” which contains 14 levels, the lower the
number, the more acidic the solution is, while the higher the number, the more basic the
solution is. The pH of a solution refers to the measure of the concentration of hydrogen
ions in order to indicate whether the solution is acidic or basic in nature. An acid that
releases few hydrogen ions in aqueous solution is a weak acid. In the solution, the pH
level is inversely proportional to the concentration of hydrogen ions. When a weak acid is
dissolved in water, it does not completely ionize. It releases fairly low concentrations of
hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution, resulting in a pH range of about 5 to just below 7.
Weak acids and bases are only partially ionized in their solutions, whereas strong
acids and bases are completely ionized when dissolved in water. In the other hand, weak
acids and bases are very common, and we encounter them often both in the academic
problems and in everyday life. The ionization of weak acids and bases is a chemical
equilibrium phenomenon. The equilibrium principles are essential for the understanding of
equilibria of weak acids and weak bases. In this connection, you probably realize that
conjugate acids of weak bases are weak acids and conjugate bases of weak acids are
weak bases.
Chapter 12: Acid-Base Equilibria and Salt Equilibria

Weak bases react in a two-way ionization at a specific equilibrium point and

therefore, do not undergo dissociation completely, such as weak acids. While strong
bases give of hydroxide ions through dissociation, weak bases react with water to release
hydroxide ions, which is why 7 to 10 is the range of the pH of a weak base.
To determine the pH of the solution, the following formula is used:
pKa=−log10Ka
Example. You want to find the pH of 0.1 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid. In order to give
1 mole of hydrogen ions and 1 mole of chloride ion, every mole of HCl reacts with the
water. Meaning that if the concentration of the acid is 0.1 mol dm-3, consequently, the
concentration of hydrogen ions is 0.1 mol dm-3 as well.
Solution.

log10 [0.1] = -1
pH = - log10 [0.1]
- (-1) = 1
Therefore, the pH of this acid is 1.
Common Ion Effect
The result caused by the substance adding an ion that is part of the equilibrium is
called the common ion effect.
In solutions, the common ion effect is most evident in the event of the decrease of
solubility of solids. Because of the change in equilibrium, it causes in the solubility of a
compound to decrease by the adding of common ions.
The common ion effect is evident as well in the regulation of buffers. In a buffering
solution which can be an acid or base, a conjugate counterpart accompanies it. The
increase of more like conjugate ions can change the solution’s pH.
Increasing common ions decreases the solubility, as the reactions changes forth
to the left to mitigate the stress of the extra product. Increasing common ions to a
dissociation reaction causes the equilibrium to change forth to the left towards the
reactants, resulting in precipitation.
Buffer Solutions
A certain type of solution that halts excessive shifts in pH levels is called a buffer
which contains a specific buffer capacity (amount of base or acid increased before shift in
Chapter 12: Acid-Base Equilibria and Salt Equilibria

pH) and buffer range (the range of pH wherein the acids and bases added can be
neutralized by the buffer at the same time, keeping a constant pH).
The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation for pH shows why pH does not change by
much in buffers.
[H+][A−]
𝐾𝑎 =
𝐻𝐴
[𝐴−]
𝑝𝐻 = 𝑝𝐾𝑎 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔
𝐻𝐴
Where,
A is the concentration of the conjugate base
HA is the concentration of the acid
The pH equals pKa once the ratio of the conjugate base or acid is 1. When the ratio
between the conjugate base or acid is equal to 1, the pH = pKa. The pH lowers by 1 unit
from pKa once the ratio between them is 0.10, because log (0.10) = -1. If the ratio were to
increase to a value of 10, the pH would follow as well by 1 unit, because log (10) = 1. The
buffer capacity of the solution has a range of approximately 2. Meaning that when a buffer
is generated, before the pH shifts. It can be altered by -1 (acid) or +1 (base). Once the
base has been added to heighten the pH, majority of the conjugate acid will have been
gotten rid of to maintain a specific pH, causing the pH to be free from being held back by
the conjugate acid making it increase faster. Similarly, so does the adding of acid. The pH
decreases faster because most of the conjugate base is used up.
Solubility Product
The Ksp is referred to as the solubility product since it is the product of the
solubilities of the ions in moles per liter. Therefore, the solubility product of a salt can be
obtained through its solubility.
An example that can show the relationship of the solubility product and the
solubility of a salt is photographic films. The sensitivity of AgBr to the light is what they are
based from. Once the light hits its crystal, a few of the Ag+ ions become silver metal. When
the film has been developed, that is when the remaining Ag+ ions reduce to silver metal
as well. To further “fix” the film, AgBr crystals that are not able to absorb light are removed.
The solubility of the solute can be affected by the pH of an aqueous solution.
Through the shift of the pH, the charge state of the solute is changed as well. If ever the
pH of a particular molecule were to hold no net electric charge, seldom, the solute has
minimal solubility and out of the solution, it is precipitated.
HIGHLIGHTS/SUMMARY
 Bronsted-Lowry acid base theory is the theory that describe acid-base interactions
in terms of proton transfer between chemical species.
 A pH solution can measure molar concentration of hydrogen ions and can also
measure acidity of basicity of a solution.
 All acids and bases do not ionize or dissociate to the same extent.
Chapter 12: Acid-Base Equilibria and Salt Equilibria

 The relationship of Ka and Kb are reversible. The higher the value for pKa, the
weaker the acid and vice-versa. The lower the value of pKb, the stronger the base,
and vice-versa.
 The result caused by the substance adding an ion that is part of the equilibrium is
called the common ion effect.
 In a buffer, once the base has been added to heighten the pH, majority of the
conjugate acid will have been gotten rid of to maintain a specific pH, causing the
pH to be free from being held back by the conjugate acid making it increase faster.

CHAPTER ASSESSMENT
A. Multiple Choice.
1. An acid that releases few hydrogen ions in aqueous solution is called a
a. strong base b. strong acid
c. weak base d. weak acid
2. The lower the pH, the higher the ______________ of hydrogen ions.
a. pressure b. temperature
c. concentration d. surface area
3. What is the result caused by the substance adding an ion that is part of
the equilibrium?
a. common ion effect b. Le Chatelier’s principle
c. solubility d. buffer solution
4. What is the equation for pH that shows why pH does not change by much
in buffers?
a. Maxwell’s equation b. Henderson-Hasselbalch’s
equation
c. Le Chatelier’s principle d. Einstein’s Postulate
5. This is the theory that describe acid-base interactions in terms of proton
transfer between chemical species.
a. Big Bang Theory b. Bronsted-Lowry Theory
c. Theory of Relativity d. Quantum Theory
6. What is the numerical value for pH of the molar concentration of H+ ions?
a. Negative power of 10 b. Positive power of 10
c. Negative power of 12 d. Positive power of 12
7. Which of the following statements is/are true?
I. All acids do not ionize or dissociate to the same extent.
Chapter 12: Acid-Base Equilibria and Salt Equilibria

II. Not All acids do not ionize or dissociate to the same extent.
III. All bases do not ionize or dissociate to the same extent.
IV. Not all bases do not ionize or dissociate to the same extent.
a. I & IV b. III only
c. II only d. I & III
8. What happens to the weak acids and bases when it is in a solution?
a. Completely ionized b. Partially ionized
c. Not ionized d. None of the above
9. What happens to the strong acids and bases when it is dissolved in
water?
a. Completely ionized b. Partially ionized
c. Not ionized d. None of the above
10. A certain type of solution that halts excessive shifts in pH levels is called
a _______________.
a. buffer b. solubility product
c. weak acid d. weak base
B. Short Answer
1. Explain how a buffer solution maintains its pH.
2. Explain the Bronsted-Lowry Theory in your own words.
3. Explain how the solubility of the solute can be affected by the pH of an
aqueous solution.
4. What does pH mean?
5. Name the most common example of an amphoteric substance.
C. Problem Solving
1. Solve for the pH of the following acids:
a. 1.7 x 10-5 mol dm-3 of ethanoic acid
b. 8.9 x 10-8 mol dm-3 of hydrogen sulphide
c. 5.6 x 10-4 mol dm-3 of hydrofluoric acid
Chapter 12: Acid-Base Equilibria and Salt Equilibria

KEY TO CORRECTION
A. Multiple Choice
1. D 6. A
2. C 7. D
3. A 8. B
4. B 9. A
5. B 10. A
B. Short Answers
1. Once the base has been added to heighten the pH, majority of the
conjugate acid will have been gotten rid of to maintain a specific pH,
causing the pH to be free from being held back by the conjugate acid
making it increase faster.
2. Acid-base interactions in terms of proton transfer between chemical
species.
3. Through the shift of the pH, the charge state of the solute is changed as
well. If ever the pH of a particular molecule were to hold no net electric
charge, seldom, the solute has minimal solubility and out of the solution, it
is precipitated.
4. Power of Hydrogen
5. Water
C. Problem Solving
1. (a) 4.8; (b) 7.1; and (c) 3.3

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