You are on page 1of 52

Topic 7

Asids and Bases

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
1.

2.
3.

4.
5.

Define acid and base using the Arrhenius and the


Bronsted-Lowry theories
Explain what an alkali is
Differentiate between acid strength and base
strength
Discuss the autoionisation of water
Interpret the pH scale for acidic, neutral and
alkaline solutions

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
6.
7.

8.

9.

Identify the properties of acids, bases and alkalis


Test a solution to see whether it is an acid or a
base using indicators
Determine the relationship between the number of
moles and molarity
Prepare a standard solution whose molarity is
known

Asids and Bases

Citric acid is found in lemons and other citrus food.

The acid in vinegar is acetic acid.

The acid used in car batteries is sulphuric acid.

The lining of our stomachs produce gastric juice


which is essential for digestion. The acid in gastric
juice is hydrochloric acid.

Ammonia are used in household cleaning products.

Sodium hydroxide is used to make soap.

7.1

ACID, BASE AND ALKALI

Arrhenius Theory

Substances that ionise in water to produce


hydrogen ions, H+, are acids.

Substances that ionise in water to yield hydroxide


ions, OH-, are bases.

Arrhenius Theory
Limitations

It can only be used to explain acids and bases that


are dissolved in water.

It does not explain why substances such as


ammonia, NH3, which does not contain an OH
group like most bases, show basic properties in
water.

Brnsted-Lowry Acid-Base

An acid is a substance that donates a proton (H+)


to a base.

A base is a substance that accepts a proton (H+)


from an acid.

Brnsted-Lowry Acid-Base

An acid is a proton donor.


A base is a proton accepter.

Brnsted-Lowry Acid-Base

In addition, according to Bronsted and Lowry, acidbase reactions are reversible reactions.

The acid has a conjugate base and the base has its
conjugate acid.

Brnsted-Lowry Acid-Base

The products of a Brnsted-Lowry acid-base


reaction are also acids and bases.

Brnsted-Lowry Acid-Base
Example 1
CH3COOH + H2O
H+ donor
Acid

Example 2

H+ acceptor
Base

H3O+

H+ donor
Conjugate acid

CH3COOH+ acceptor
Conjugate base

Brnsted-Lowry Acid-Base

When a Brnsted-Lowry base such as ammonia is


placed in water, it accepts a proton from the solvent
(water). Hence, water acts as a Brnsted-Lowry acid.
NH3

H 2O

OH-

NH4+

H+ acceptor
H+ donor
H+ acceptor
H+ donor
Base
Acid
Conjugate base Conjugate acid

NH4+ is the conjugate acid of the base NH3


OH- is the conjugate base of the acid H2O

Tip
Conjugate acid-base pairs are chemical spesies whose
formulae differ only by one proton, H +

Alkali

Alkali is originally from the Arabic word, Al-Qaly.

They are metal oxides or basic oxides of alkali


metals that dissolve in water to produce the
corresponding metal hydroxides.

Hydrated Protons and Hydronium


Ions

Proton is fundamental to both the Arrhenius and


Bronsted-Lowry definitions of an acid.

Although the symbol H+(aq) is convenient to use in


equations, it does not really represent the structure
of the ion present in an aqueous solution.

Hydrated Protons and Hydronium


Ions

This is because as a bare proton with no electron


nearby, H+, is much too reactive to exist by itself.

The H+ attaches to a water molecule, giving the


more stable hydronium ion, H3O+.

SELF-CHECK 7.1

Account for the acidic properties of nitrous acid


(HNO2) in terms of the Arrhenius theory and
Bronsted-Lowry theory. Then, state the conjugate
base of nitrous acid.

SELF-CHECK 7.1

Acid Strength and Base Strength


Dissociation

When an ionic compound dissolved in water or in


aqueous solutions, it separates into its ions.

Acid Strength and Base Strength


Ionisation

Unlike ionic compounds, covalent compounds are


not made up of ions.

However, many such compounds, when dissolved in


water, form ions in solution.

This process is called ionisation.

HCl

Acid Strength and Base Strength

Different acids and bases ionise to different extents


in aqueous solutions.

Those acids or bases that ionise completely in


aqueous solution form respectively strong acids
and strong bases.

Those acids and bases that ionise only to a small


extent are weak acids and weak bases
respectively.

Acid Strength and Base Strength

Autoionisation of Water

Water ionises slightly in solution to produce equal


numbers of hydrated hydrogen ions and hydroxide
ions.

Autoionisation of Water

According to the Bronsted-Lowry theory, this


autoionisation or self-ionisation of water is an acidbase reaction.

One H2O molecule gives a proton to another H2O


molecule as follows:

Autoionisation of Water

Do you know that water is said to be amphiprotic?

It means that H2O molecules can donate protons


(acting as an acid) as well as accept protons (acting
as a base).

7.2
pH Scale

pH Scale

The pH scale is a scale of numbers from 0 to 14 to


show how acidic or basic/alkaline a substance is.

pH Scale

7.3
CHARACTERISTIC OF ACIDS,
BASES AND ALKALIS

Properties of Acids
a)

Acids have a sour taste.

b)

Acids turn litmus paper from blue to red and cause


bromothymol blue to change from blue to yellow.

c)

Acids react with metals to form salt and hydrogen


gas, H2.

Properties of Acids
d)

Acids react with bases or alkali to form salt and


water. The reaction is a neutralisation reaction.

e)

Acids react with salts of weaker acids to form the


weaker acid and the salts of the stronger acids.

Properties of Acids
f)

Acids conduct electricity in aqueous solutions.

Acids ionise into ions in solutions that are free to


move in an electric field, thus conducting electricity.

g)

Carbonate salts react with acids, forming salt,


carbon dioxide gas and water.

h)

Concentrated acids are corrosive and can cause


injury to the skin and corrode metals.

Properties of Bases and Alkalis


a)

Bases have a bitter taste.

b)

Bases feel soapy to touch.

c)

Bases turn litmus paper from red to blue and


bromthymol blue from yellow to blue.

d)

Bases neutralise acids, forming salt and water.

e)

Bases conduct electric current in aqueous solutions


because bases are ionised to some extent.

f)

Concentrated bases are corrosive and can burn the


skin.

7.4
TESTS FOR ACIDS AND ALKALIS

Test for Acids and Alkalis

We can do test for acids and alkalis by using litmus


paper, or indicators such as universal indicator.

Acidicity and alkalinity are measured by acid-base


indicators that can change colour in acid or base
solutions.

Or, we can use the pH meter for a more accurate


reading of pH value.

Test for Acids and Alkalis

Universal indicator

Test for Acids and Alkalis

Activity 7.3: Red cabbage indicator

Test for Acids and Alkalis

pH meter

7.5
CONCENTRATION OF ACID AND
BASE

Concentration of Acid and Base

The concentration of an acid or base is the


quantity of solute in a given volume of solution
which is usually 1 dm-3.

Thus, the concentration of a solution determines the


amount of solute in a given volume of solution.

Thus, the amount of solute in a given volume of


solution determines the concentration of a solution .

The greater the amount of dissolved solute, the


higher is the concentration of the solution.

Relationship between the


Number of Moles and Molarity

Unit for concentration: g dm-3 or mol dm-3.

The unit of concentration that is widely used is


molarity (mol / dm3) or molar concentration (M).

Relationship between the


Number of Moles and Molarity
Problem 1

The concentration of nitric acid, HNO3, is 126 g dm-3.


Find its molarity.
(Relative atomic mass: H, 1; N, 14; O, 16)
Answer: 2.0 mol dm-3

Relationship between the


Number of Moles and Molarity
Problem 2

25 cm3 of sodium hydroxide solution was poured


into a beaker. The concentration of the alkali was
1.5 mol dm-3. Calculate the number of moles of
sodium hydroxide in the beaker.
Answer: 0.0375 mol

Relationship between the


Number of Moles and Molarity
SELF-CHECK 7.2

The concentration of cholesterol (C27H46O) in normal


blood is approximately 0.005 M. How many grams
of cholesterol are in 750 cm3 of blood?
Answer: 1.45 g

Preparation of a Standard
Solution

Standard solutions are solutions of accurately


known concentrations.

Preparation of a
Standard Solution

How would you prepare a


standard solution of 1.0 dm3 of
0.50 mol dm-3 sodium chloride?

Preparation of a
Standard Solution

Preparation of a
Standard Solution
SELF-CHECK 7.3
A science investigation requires
1.50 L of 0.250 M glucose, C6H12O6.

Explain how you would prepare the


above solution.
Answer:
Weigh 67.5 g of glucose. Put into
1.5 L volumetric flask. Add water
until 1.5 L.

Solution Liquefaction
Dilution Method
In the dilution method, the amount of dissolved
solute used is fixed but the amount of solvent
used is increased, thus liquefying the solution.
Dilution Equation:

MC VC MD VD

C = concentrate
D = dilute

Solution Liquefaction

How do we prepare 200 cm3 of 0.50 M H2SO4 solution


from a 2.00 M solution?
Answer:

Calculate the volume of the 2.00 M solution required.


(50 cm3)
By using a pipette, 50 cm3 of the 2.00 M solution is
transferred into a 200 cm 3 volumetric flask.
Distilled water is added until the total volume of the
solution is exactly 200 cm3.
The solution is shaked well to ensure thorough mixing.

Solution Liquefaction
SELF-CHECK 7.4

You are given a 10.0 M solution. 10.0 cm3 of this


solution is withdrawn and then diluted to 250 cm3.
Determine the concentration of the final solution.
Answer: 0.4 M

Solution Liquefaction
ACTIVITY 7.4

You are given a 2.0 M concentrated acid. To dilute the


acid, you pour some water into a beaker and then add
the acid to the water. More water is then added to further
dilute the acid. Discuss why in diluting the concentrated
acid, you did not add water directly to the acid.
Answer:
The reaction between water and acid is exothermic,
generating intense heat, causing spattering.

You might also like