Acids & Bases

Equilibria

pH & pOH
What is the [H3O+] of a solution which has a
[OH-] of 1.0 x 10-9 M at 25oC? Is this solution
acidic or basic?
Kw = [H3O+][OH-]

1 x 10-14 = [H3O+][1 x 10-9]

[H3O+] = 1 x 10-5 M
 Expressing acidity or basidity by moles
per liter takes a long time!!

 So we use the pH & pOH scale.

 Recall pH of:
 0 – 7 is acidic
 7 – 14 is basic
 Opposite for pOH:
 0 – 7 is basic
 7 – 14 is acidic
 pH = - log [H ]
+

pOH = - log [OH-]

pH + pOH = 14
What is the pH of a solution with a [H3O+] of
1 x 10-5 M?
pH = - log [H+]

pH = - log (1 x 10-5)

pH = 5
What is the pH of a solution that contains
1.0 x10–2 M of H+?
pH = - log [H+]

pH = - log (1 x 10-2)

pH = 2
What is the pH of a solution that contains
5.0 x10–12 M of H+?
pH = - log [H+]

pH = - log (5 x 10-12)

pH = 11.30
 What is the pH of a solution that contains
1.0 x10–7 M of H+? pOH?
pH = - log [H+]

pH = - log (1 x 10-7)

pH = 7
pH + pOH = 14
pOH = 7
 What is the pOH of a solution that contains
6.4 x10–10 M of OH-? pH?
pOH = - log [OH-] pH = - log [H+]

pOH = - log (6.4 x 10-10) pH = - log (1.56 x 10-5)

pOH = 9.19 pH = 4.81

 A solution of 0.25M HCN is prepared
in water at 25oC. What is the pH of
the solution? pOH?
HCN + H2O  H3O+ + CN-
ACID BASE

pH = - log [H+]

pH = - log (0.25) pH + pOH = 14

pH = 0.60 pOH = 13.40
 What is the pH of black coffee at 25oC if
[OH-] is 2.0 x 10-10 M?
pOH = - log [OH-] pH = - log [H+]

pOH = - log (2.0 x 10-10) pH = - log (5 x 10-5)

pOH = 9.70 pH = 4.30

pH + pOH = 14
 A solution of 0.09M NH3 is prepared
in water at 25oC. What is the pH?
NH3 + H2O  NH4+ + OH-
BASE

pOH = - log [OH-]

pOH = - log (0.09)

pOH = 1.05 pH = 12.95

pH + pOH = 14
What is the [H+] of a solution if the pH
is 3.7?

[H ] = 10
+ - pH

[OH-] = 10 - pOH

[H+] = 10- 3.7

[H+] = 1.995 x 10-4 M
What is the [H+] solution if the pH is
9.62?
[H+] = 10- pH

[H+] = 10- 9.62

[H+] = 2.40 x 10-10 M

This makes sense, because the

[H3O+] < [OH-] so basic &
pH is basic
 What is the [OH-] of a solution if the
pOH is 5.4? pH? [H+]?
[OH-] = 10- pOH [H+] = 10- pH
[OH-] = 10-5.4 [H+] = 10-8.6
[OH-] = 3.98 x 10-6 M [H+] = 2.51 x 10-9 M

pH + pOH = 14
Does [H+] x [OH-] = Kw?
pH = 8.6