Unit 10: Aqueous Chemistry – Acids & Bases: The Basics

ACIDS BASES
 Definition  Definition

 Some chemical compounds that are acids:  Some chemical compounds that are bases:
o o
o o
o o
o o
o o
 Some everyday substances that are acids:  Some everyday substances that are bases:
o o
o o
o o
o o
o o
 Taste _______________.  Taste _______________.
 Change litmus paper from ______ to ______.  Change litmus paper from ______ to ______.
 An acidic solution has a pH of ______.  A basic solution has a pH of ______.

 Acids and bases are ____________________, meaning they produce ions when dissolved in water.
o Write chemical equations for the ionization of (a) HCl, and (b) NaOH in water.

o An H+ is simply a proton(!); evidence suggests that it exists in aq solutions bonded to a

water molecule: HCl(g) + H2O(l) → H3O+(aq) + Cl−(aq) H3O+(aq) is known as the hydronium ion

 When an acid and a base react, it is called a _____________________ reaction.

o The products of this type of reaction are always __________ and a __________.
o Write a balanced chemical equation for this type of reaction below.

 Distinguish amongst the following terms as they apply to acids and bases:
Strong –
Weak –
Concentrated –
Dilute –

Arrhenius Theory of Acids and Bases

Chemistry Raleigh Charter High School Dr. Genez
Unit 10: Aqueous Chemistry – Acids & Bases: The Basics

Experimental observation: HCl(g) → H+(aq) + Cl−(aq) NaOH(aq) → Na+(aq) + OH−(aq)

Acids – substances, that when dissolved in water, produce hydrogen ions, H +

Bases – substances, that when dissolved in water, produce hydroxide ions, OH −

Brønsted-Lowery Theory of Acids and Bases

Brønsted and Lowery proposed a more general definition of acids and bases based on the transfer of
H+ ions from one substance to another:

Acids – substances that can donate a proton to another substance

Bases – substances which can accept a proton from another substance

Key points:
 In order to donate, there must be an acceptor; in order to accept, a donor is required.
 For an acid to act (donate an H+), there must be a base present (to accept an H+).
 Every acid (H+ donor) reaction contains a base (H+ acceptor).

Here is HCl acting “acidy”: (1) HCl(g) + H2O(l) → H3O+(aq) + Cl−(aq) : ____ donates and____ accepts, a proton
Now, NH3 acts like a base: (2) NH3(g) + H2O(l) ↔ NH4+(aq) + OH−(aq) : ____(base) accepts proton from ____ (acid!!)
Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs

When your acid donates its proton, you get ...a base. And, when a base accepts a proton, it becomes ... an acid.

Consider equation (1) above:

 after HCl donates a proton, Cl− remains; since Cl− can now accept a proton, it is a base.
 after H2O accepts the proton, it becomes H3O+; since H3O+ can donate a proton, it is an ________.
 HCl and Cl− are a conjugate acid-base pair; H2O and H3O+ are a conjugate base-acid pair.

Every acid has a conjugate base, and vice-versa. Anytime H + is added or removed, a conjugate is produced!

conjugate acid – the acid left over after a base accepts a proton
conjugate base – the base left over after an acid donates its proton

Chemistry Raleigh Charter High School Dr. Genez