1.

Acids and Bases Tutorial

Define the terms acid and base according to the Brnsted-Lowry theory and state one example of
a weak acid and one example of a strong base.(2)

2.

Describe two different methods, one chemical and one physical, other than measuring the pH,
that could be used to distinguish between ethanoic acid and hydrochloric acid solutions of the
same concentration.(4)

3.

Black coffee has a pH of 5 and toothpaste has a pH of 8. Identify which is more acidic and deduce
how many times the [H+] is greater in the more acidic product.(2)

4.

In an experiment conducted at 25.0 C, the initial concentration of propanoic acid and methanol
were 1.6 mol dm3 and 2.0 mol dm3 respectively. Once equilibrium was established, a sample of
the mixture was removed and analysed. It was found to contain 0.80 mol dm3of compound X.
(i)
Calculate the concentrations of the other three species present at equilibrium.(3)
(ii) State the equilibrium constant expression, Kc, and calculate the equilibrium constant for
this reaction at 25.0 C.(2)

5.

(i)
(ii)

6.

Define the terms acid and base according to the Brnsted-Lowry theory. Distinguish
between a weak base and a strong base. State one example of a weak base.(3)
Weak acids in the environment may cause damage. Identify a weak acid in the environment
and outline one of its effects.(2)

The graph below indicates the pH change during the titration of 20.0 cm3 of 0.100 mol dm3 of
CH3COOH(aq) with 0.100 mol dm3 KOH(aq). From the graph, identify the volume of KOH(aq)
and the pH at the equivalence point.

(2)
7.

(i)
(ii)

Describe how an indicator works. (3)

Using Table 16 of the Data Booklet, identify the most appropriate indicator for the titration
of ethanoic acid with potassium hydroxide. Explain your choice.(2)

8.

Explain, using an equation, whether a solution of 0.10 mol dm3 FeCl3(aq) would be acidic,
alkaline or neutral.(2)

Term 3 Tutorial Acids and Bases

9.

Determine the pH of the solution resulting when 100 cm3 of 0.50 mol dm3 HCl(aq) is mixed with
200 cm3 of 0.10 mol dm3 NaOH(aq).(5)

10.

Define an acid in terms of the Lewis theory. Deduce, giving a reason, whether NF3 is able to
function as a Lewis acid or as a Lewis base.(2)

11.

Describe two different properties that could be used to distinguish between a 1.00 mol dm3
solution of a strong monoprotic acid and a 1.00 mol dm3 solution of a weak monoprotic acid.( 2)

12.

Explain, using the Brnsted-Lowry theory, how water can act either as an acid or a base. In each
case identify the conjugate acid or base formed.(2)

13.

Ammonia, NH3, is a weak base. It has a pKb value of 4.75.

Calculate the pH of a 1.00 102 mol dm3 aqueous solution of ammonia at 298 K.(4)

14.

(i)

(ii)

25.0 cm3 of 1.00 102 mol dm3 hydrochloric acid solution is added to 50.0 cm3 of
1.00 102 mol dm3 aqueous ammonia solution. Calculate the concentrations of both
ammonia and ammonium ions in the resulting solution and hence determine the pH of the
solution. (5)
State what is meant by a buffer solution and explain how the solution in (i), which contains
ammonium chloride dissolved in aqueous ammonia, can function as a buffer solution.(3)

15.

Salts may form neutral, acidic or alkaline solutions when dissolved in water.
(i)
Explain why a solution of sodium chloride is neutral but sodium carbonate forms an
alkaline solution when it dissolves in water.(2)
(ii) Explain why iron(III) chloride, [Fe(H2O)6]Cl3, forms an acidic solution in water.(2)

16.

(a)
(b)
(c)

(i)
State an equation for the reaction of ethanoic acid with water. (1)
(ii) Calculate the pH of 0.200 mol dm3 ethanoic acid (pKa = 4.76).(3)
Determine the pH of a solution formed from adding 50.0 cm3 of 1.00 mol dm3 ethanoic
acid, CH3COOH(aq), to 50.0 cm3 of 0.600 mol dm3 sodium hydroxide, NaOH(aq).(4)
Explain how the solution formed in part (b) can act as a buffer. Use equations to support
your answer.(2)

17.

Water is an important substance that is abundant on the Earths surface. Water dissociates
according to the following equation.
H+(aq) + OH(aq)
H2O(l)
(i)
State the equilibrium constant expression for the dissociation of water.(1)
(ii) Explain why even a very acidic aqueous solution still has some OH ions present in it.(1)
(iii) State and explain the effect of increasing temperature on the equilibrium constant above
given that the dissociation of water is an endothermic process.(3)
(iv) The pH of a solution is 2. If its pH is increased to 6, deduce how the hydrogen ion
concentration changes.(2)

18.

Water is an important substance that is abundant on the Earths surface.

(i)
State the expression for the ionic product constant of water, Kw.(1)
(ii) Explain why even a very acidic aqueous solution still has some OH ions present in it.(1)
(iii) State and explain the effect of increasing temperature on the value of Kw given that the
ionization of water is an endothermic process.(3)
(iv) State and explain the effect of increasing temperature on the pH of water.(2)

19.

Buffer solutions resist small changes in pH. A phosphate buffer can be made by dissolving
NaH2PO4 and Na2HPO4 in water, in which NaH2PO4 produces the acidic ion and Na2HPO4
produces the conjugate base ion.

Term 3 Tutorial Acids and Bases

(i)
(ii)
(iii)

Deduce the acid and conjugate base ions that make up the phosphate buffer and state the
ionic equation that represents the phosphate buffer.(3)
Describe how the phosphate buffer minimizes the effect of the addition of a strong base,
OH(aq), to the buffer. Illustrate your answer with an ionic equation.(2)
Describe how the phosphate buffer minimizes the effect of the addition of a strong acid,
H+(aq), to the buffer. Illustrate your answer with an ionic equation.(2)

20.

A 0.10 mol dm3 ammonia solution is placed in a flask and titrated with a 0.10 mol dm3
hydrochloric acid solution.
(i)
Explain why the pH of the ammonia solution is less than 13.(2)
(ii) Estimate the pH at the equivalence point for the titration of hydrochloric acid with
ammonia and explain your reasoning.(2)
(iii) State the equation for the reaction of ammonia with water and write the Kb expression for
NH3(aq).(2)
(iv) When half the ammonia has been neutralized (the half-equivalence point), the pH of the
solution is 9.25. Deduce the relationship between [NH3] and [NH4+] at the half-equivalence
point.(1)
(v) Determine pKb and Kb for ammonia based on the pH at the half-equivalence point.(3)
(vi) Describe the significance of the half-equivalence point in terms of its effectiveness as a
buffer.(1)

21.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

22.

(a)

The nitrite ion is present in nitrous acid, HNO2, which is a weak acid. The nitrate ion is
present in nitric acid, HNO3, which is a strong acid. Distinguish between the terms strong
and weak acid and state the equations used to show the dissociation of each acid in aqueous
solution.(3)
A small piece of magnesium ribbon is added to solutions of nitric and nitrous acid of the
same concentration at the same temperature. Describe two observations that would allow
you to distinguish between the two acids.(2)
A student decided to investigate the reactions of the two acids with separate samples of
0.20 mol dm3 sodium hydroxide solution.
(i)
Calculate the volume of the sodium hydroxide solution required to react exactly with
a 15.0 cm3 solution of 0.10 mol dm3 nitric acid.(1)
(ii) The following hypothesis was suggested by the student: Since nitrous acid is a
weak acid it will react with a smaller volume of the 0.20 mol dm3 sodium hydroxide
solution. Comment on whether or not this is a valid hypothesis.(1)
The graph below shows how the conductivity of the two acids changes with concentration.

Identify Acid 1 and explain your choice.(2)

Ammonia can be converted into nitric acid, HNO3(aq), and hydrocyanic acid, HCN(aq).
The pKa of hydrocyanic acid is 9.21.
(i)
Distinguish between the terms strong and weak acid and state the equations used to
show the dissociation of each acid in aqueous solution.(3)

Term 3 Tutorial Acids and Bases

(ii)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Deduce the expression for the ionization constant, Ka, of hydrocyanic acid and
calculate its value from the pKa value given.(2)
(iii) Use your answer from part (a) (ii) to calculate the [H+] and the pH of an aqueous
solution of hydrocyanic acid of concentration 0.108 mol dm3. State one assumption
made in arriving at your answer.(4)
A small piece of magnesium ribbon is added to solutions of nitric and hydrocyanic acid of
the same concentration at the same temperature. Describe two observations that would
allow you to distinguish between the two acids.(2)
A student decided to investigate the reactions of the two acids with separate samples of
0.20 mol dm3 sodium hydroxide solution.
(i)
Calculate the volume of the sodium hydroxide solution required to react exactly with
a 15.0 cm3 solution of 0.10 mol dm3 nitric acid.(1)
(ii) The following hypothesis was suggested by the student: Since hydrocyanic acid is a
weak acid it will react with a smaller volume of the 0.20 mol dm3 sodium hydroxide
solution. Comment on whether or not this is a valid hypothesis.(1)
(iii) Use Table 16 of the Data Booklet to identify a suitable indicator for the titration of
sodium hydroxide and hydrocyanic acid.(1)
The graph below shows how the conductivity of the two acids changes with concentration.

Identify Acid 1 and explain your choice.(2)

23.

24.

25.

26.

(i)
(ii)

Define a Brnsted-Lowry acid.(1)

Deduce the two acids and their conjugate bases in the following reaction:
H2O(l) + NH3(aq)
OH(aq) + NH4+(aq)
(2)

(iii)

Explain why the following reaction can also be described as an acid-base reaction.
BF4(s)
(2)
F(g) + BF3(g)

Ethanoic acid, CH3COOH, is a weak acid.

(i)
Define the term weak acid and state the equation for the reaction of ethanoic acid with
water.(2)
(ii) Vinegar, which contains ethanoic acid, can be used to clean deposits of calcium carbonate
from the elements of electric kettles. State the equation for the reaction of ethanoic acid
with calcium carbonate.(2)
Some of the most important processes in chemistry involve acid-base reactions.
(i)
Calculate the Ka value of benzoic acid, C6H5COOH, using Table 15 in the Data Booklet.(1)
(ii) Based on its Ka value, state and explain whether benzoic acid is a strong or weak acid. (2)
(iii) Determine the hydrogen ion concentration and the pH of a 0.010 mol dm3 benzoic acid
solution. State one assumption made in your calculation.(4)
The equations of two acid-base reactions are given below.

Term 3 Tutorial Acids and Bases

Reaction A

NH3(aq) + H2O(l)

+
NH 4 (aq) + OH(aq)

The reaction mixture in A consists mainly of reactants because the equilibrium lies to the left.
Reaction B
NH2(aq) + H2O(l)
NH 3 (aq) + OH(aq)
The reaction mixture in B consists mainly of products because the equilibrium lies to the right.
(i)
For each of the reactions A and B, deduce whether water is acting as an acid or a base and
explain your answer.(2)
(ii) In reaction B, identify the stronger base, NH2 or OH and explain your answer.(2)
(iii) In reactions A and B, identify the stronger acid, NH4+ or NH3 (underlined) and explain
your answer.(2)
27.

(a)
(b)

Describe two different experimental methods to distinguish between aqueous solutions of a

strong base and a weak base.(5)
Two acidic solutions, X and Y, of equal concentrations have pH values of 2 and 6
respectively.
(i)
Calculate the hydrogen ion concentrations in the two solutions and identify the
stronger acid.(2)
(ii) Determine the ratio of the hydrogen ion concentrations in the two solutions X and
Y.(1)

28.

(i)
(ii)

29.

A 25.0 cm3 solution of a weak monoprotic acid, HA(aq), is titrated with 0.155 mol dm3 sodium
hydroxide, NaOH(aq), and the following graph is obtained.

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)

Define a Lewis acid and state an example that is not a Brnsted-Lowry acid. (2)
Draw structural formulas to represent the reaction between the Lewis acid named in (i) and
a Lewis base and identify the nature of the bond formed in the product.(4)

Determine the pH at the equivalence point.(1)

Explain, using an equation, why the equivalence point is not at pH = 7.(3)
Calculate the concentration of the weak acid before the addition of any NaOH(aq).(2)
Estimate, using data from the graph, the dissociation constant, Ka, of the weak acid, HA,
showing your working.(3)
Suggest an appropriate indicator for this titration.(1)

30.

Describe qualitatively the action of an acid-base indicator.(3)

31.

(i)
(ii)

Explain what is meant by the term buffer solution.(2)

Calculate the pH of a solution prepared by mixing 50.0 cm3 of 0.200 mol dm3
CH3COOH(aq) and 50.0 cm3 of 0.100 mol dm3 NaOH(aq), showing your working. (3)

Term 3 Tutorial Acids and Bases

32.

State whether AlCl3 is acidic, basic or neutral in an aqueous solution. Write an equation to support
your answer.(2)

33.

0.100 mol of ammonia, NH3, was dissolved in water to make 1.00 dm3 of solution.
This solution has a hydroxide ion concentration of 1.28 103 mol dm3.
(i)
Determine the pH of the solution.(2)
(ii) Calculate the base dissociation constant, Kb, for ammonia.(3)

34.

(a)

(b)

Predict and explain, using equations where appropriate, whether the following solutions
are acidic, alkaline or neutral.
(i)
0.1 mol dm3 FeCl3(aq)(1)
(ii) 0.1 mol dm3 NaNO3(aq) (1)
(iii) 0.1 mol dm3 Na2CO3(aq)(1)
Acidic gases can be released into the atmosphere that have an environmental impact when
they are deposited as acid rain. State two elements that form the acidic gases and describe
two impacts they have on the natural environment.(3)

35.

An experiment was carried out to determine the concentration of aqueous ammonia by titrating it
with a 0.150 mol dm3 sulfuric acid solution. It was found that 25.0 cm3 of the aqueous ammonia
required 20.1 cm3 of the sulfuric acid solution for neutralization.
(a) Write the equation for the reaction and calculate the concentration, in mol dm3, of the
aqueous ammonia.(4)
(b) Several acid-base indicators are listed in Table 16 of the Data Booklet. Identify one
indicator that could be used for this experiment. Explain your answer.(3)
(c) (i)
Determine the pOH of 0.121 mol dm3 aqueous ammonia (pKb = 4.75).(4)
(ii) State what is meant by the term buffer solution, and describe the composition of an
acid buffer solution in general terms.(3)
(iii) Calculate the pH of a mixture of 50.0 cm3 of 0.100 mol dm3 aqueous ammonia and
50.0 cm3 of 0.0500 mol dm3 hydrochloric acid solution.(4)

36.

(a)

The pKa value for propanoic acid is given in Table 15 of the Data Booklet.
State the equation for the reaction of propanoic acid with water.(1)
Calculate the hydrogen ion concentration (in mol dm3) of an aqueous solution of
0.100 mol dm3 propanoic acid.(2)
The graph below shows a computer simulation of a titration of 25.0 cm3 of
0.100 mol dm3 hydrochloric acid with 0.100 mol dm3 sodium hydroxide and the pH
range of phenol red indicator.
(i)
(ii)

(b)

Term 3 Tutorial Acids and Bases

Sketch the graph that would be obtained for the titration of 25.0 cm3 of 0.100 mol dm3
propanoic acid with 0.100 mol dm3 potassium hydroxide using bromophenol blue as an
indicator. (The pH range of bromophenol blue can be found in Table 16 of the Data
Booklet).

(3)
37.

The pKb values of some amines are shown in Table 15 of the Data Booklet. Write an equation for
the reaction of ethylamine with water. State and explain how the basicity of ethylamine compares
to that of ammonia.(4)

Term 3 Tutorial Acids and Bases