Strong Acids Strong Bases

HCl, HBr, HI LiOH, NaOH, KOH

HNO3 Ca(OH)2 slightly soluble
HClO4 Ba(OH)2
H2SO4 Sr(OH)2

Weak acids: Weak base:

H3PO4 NH3
H2CO3
CH3CO2H
HF

Summary - pH of Aqueous Salt Solutions

ACIDIC CATIONS ACIDIC ANIONS

1. Cations of WEAK Bases Some anions of polyprotic acids
NH4 (main example in General Chemistry) HSO4-, H2PO4-, HSO3-
+

2. Some Metal cations

Al3+, transition metal ions

NEUTRAL CATIONS NEUTRAL ANIONS

Cations of STRONG Bases Anions of STRONG Acids
Li+, Na+, K+, Cl-, Br-, I-, NO3-, ClO4-
Ca2+, Ba2+, Sr2+

BASIC CATIONS BASIC ANIONS

None (think about why)
1. Anions of WEAK acids
F-, CH3COO-, ClO-
HCOO-, CN-, NO2-
2. Most anions of polyprotic acids
HCO3-, HS-, HCO3-, HPO42-
CO32-, SO42-, SO3 2-, S2-, PO43-
 Types of Acid/Base Reactions

1. Strong Acid + Strong Base ----> Water + salt ... pH = Neutral

Example: HCl + NaOH ----> H2O + NaCl

Net Ionic Equation: H3O+ + OH- ----> 2H2O

2. Weak Acid + Strong Base ----> Water + weak base ... pH = Basic

Example: HF + NaOH ----> H2O + NaF

Net Ionic Equation: HF + OH- ----> H2O + F-
Conjugate base of a weak acid = Basic.
Strong bases react completely with ANY acid.

The extent of this reaction is therefore 100% and the reaction will run in the forward
direction until the reactant in least supply (the limiting reagent) is used up.

3. Strong Acid + Weak Base ----> Weak Acid ... pH = Acidic

Example: HCl + F- ----> HF

Net Ionic Equation: H3O+ + F- ----> HF + H2O
Conjugate acid of a weak base = Acidic.
Strong acids react completely with ANY base.

The extent of this reaction is therefore 100% and the reaction will run in the forward
direction until the reactant in least supply (the limiting reagent) is used up.

Weak Weak Weak Weak

4. + ----> + ... pH depends upon relative
Acid Base Acid Base Ka values

Example and
NIE:
HCN + F- ----> HF + CN -