ACID BASE EQUILIBRIA LIST OF TERMS

ARRHENIUS – acids produce H3O+ ions in aqueous sol’n, bases produce OH- ions

BRONSTED-LOWRY – acids are proton (H+) donors while bases are proton acceptors

LEWIS – acids are e- pair acceptors while bases are electron pair donors

CLASSIFICATION OF ACIDS – monoprotic, diprotic, triprotic (depends on number of protons they give up)

AMPHIPROTIC – molecules and ions functioning as either acid or base

*Not all hydrogen atoms in most compounds can be given up. – Ex. Acetic acid, CH3COOH, gives up only
one proton.

CONJUGATE BASE – everything that remains of acid molecule after a proton is lost

CONJUGATE ACID – formed when proton is transferred to base

H2O – most important amphiprotic substances. In pure H2O, H3O+ and OH- are equally formed (neutral)

AUTO-IONIZATION – H3O+ and OH- ions from pure H2O formed from proton transfer from one H2O
molecule (proton donor) to another (proton acceptor)

EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT FOR IONIZATION OF WATER (Kw)

PH FORMULA

STRONG ACID/BASE – reacts completely/almost completely w/ water to from H3O+ and OH- ions.
Ionization equilibrium lies far to the right, yields a weak conjugate base/acid

WEAK ACID/BASE – dissociates only partially in water to product H3O+ and OH- ions. Ionization
equilibrium lies far to the left. Weaker the acid, stronger its conjugate base. Weaker the base, stronger
its conjugate acid.

ACID IONIZATION CONSTANT/EQUILIB CONSTANT EXPRESSION (Ka) - Since the ionization of strong acids
in water is (almost) complete, their Ka are large (>1); while Ka of weak acids are small (<1) bec they
partially ionize in water. Quantitative measure of acid strength. Proportional to acid strength
BASE IONIZATION CONSTANT/EQUILIB CONSTANT EXPRESSION (Kb) - Since the ionization of strong bases
in water is (almost) complete, their Kb are large (>1); while Kb of weak bases are small (<1) bec they
partially ionize in water. Quantitative measure of base strength. Kb value is proportional to base
strength

RELATION BETWEEN Ka AND Kb

PH CALCULATIONS - Identifying acid/base strength is important in pH calcuations

– Is it an equilibrium reaction or a reaction that will go essentially to completion?

– Strong acid/base is major H3O+/OH-; hence, pH calculation will be based in the conc. of strong
acid/base

– pH calculation of weak acid/base will be based on its ionization in water. To solve for pH, use the
Ka/Kb and follow the same steps in solving equilibrium problems.

EQUILIBRIA OF POLYPROTIC ACIDS - Acids that can furnish more than one proton. Always dissociates in a
stepwise manner, one proton at a time. The conjugate base of the first dissociation equilibrium becomes
the acid in the second step.
GENERAL CONCEPTS OF VOLUMETRIC TITRIMETRY
VOLUMETRIC TITRIMETRY – titrant/standard reagent measured volumetrically

GRAVIMETRIC TITRIMETRY – mass of standard reagent measured

COULOMETRIC TITRIMETRY – quantity of constant direct electrical current of known magnitude is

measured

ANALYTE - chemical component in the sample that is to be determined.

TITRANT - solution (usually placed in the buret) that quantitatively reacts with the analyte.

STANDARD SOLUTION - reagent of known concentration.

TITRATION - process of measuring the volume of a solution (of known concentration) that is needed to
react completely with the analyte.

EQUIVALENCE POINT - theoretical point in titration when the amount of titrant is chemically equivalent
to the amount of analyte in the sample.

ENDPOINT - experimental estimation of equivalence point; point in titration when a physical change
occurs at or near the equivalence point.

TITRATION ERROR - the difference in volume or mass between the equivalence point and end point.

INDICATOR - substance that undergoes an observable change when endpoint of a titration is reached.

BASIC REQS IN TITRATION - Successful titrations are based on reactions that are stoichiometric,
quantitative and fast. Titrant must be stable, of known concentration (standard solution) and selectively
reacts with the analyte.

PROPERTIES OF STANDARD SOLUTION - It should be sufficiently stable. It reacts rapidly and completely
with the analyte. It undergoes selective reaction with the analyte.

STANDARDIZATION - process of determining the exact concentration of the solution.

PRIMARY STANDARD - highly purified compound that serves as reference material for titrimetric
analysis.

SECONDARY STANDARD SOLUTION - a solution that is standardized against another standard solution

DIRECT TITRATION METHOD