IONIC EQUILIBRIA (AS)

ACIDS AND BASES

1. Types of acids and bases
Classified according to degree of dissociation
or ionisation in water
a. strong acids and bases :
undergoes complete ionisation
examples :
strong acids: HCl(aq) H+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
H2SO4 , HNO3
 strong bases : NaOH , KOH
b. Weak acids and bases :
undergoes incomplete or partial
ionisation in water
only a fraction of the molecules ionise
most of it remains as molecules
examples
Weak acids :
CH3COOH CH3COO- + H+
H2CO3 , HNO2 , H2S

Weak base : aqueous NH3

NH3 + H2O OH- + NH4+
 2. Neutralisation reactions of acids and
bases ,even weak acids / bases are
completely reacted
Example :
CH3COOH + NaOH CH3COO-Na+ + H2O
weak acid
 a. CH3COOH CH3COO- + H+
b. NaOH added will neutralise H+ ,
[H+] decreases , equilibrium shifts right
more CH3COOH will ionise and so
reaction will continue until all the acid
molecules have reacted
Note : similar for reactions involving weak
bases
 3. Strength of acids / bases vs concentration

a. Strength : depends on degree of

dissociation or ionisation
weak and strong
 b. Concentration : depends on amount of
solute present in a certain volume of the
solution ( usually in 1 dm3 )
i) concentrated : contains many moles
of solute in 1 dm3 solution
ii) dilute : contains a few moles of solute
in 1 dm3 solution
c. There may be concentrated solution of a
weak acid or dilute solution of a strong
base etc
4.Definitions of acids and bases
a. Arrhenius definition :
Acids are substances that produces H+ ions
in water
Bases are substances that produces OH-
ions in water
b. Bronsted Lowry definition :
i) Acids are proton (H+) donors
ii) Bases are proton acceptors
 iii) When an acid loses its H+ , it forms a base
(conjugate base)

When a base accepts a H+ , it forms an acid (

conjugate acid )
 Eg : Acid base + H+
HCl H+ + Cl-
acid base

- H+
 H2O + H+ H3O+
base acid

+ H+
 5. An acid base reaction is a dynamic
equilibrium between 2 conjugate acid-
base pairs
+ H+

Acid 1 + Base 2 Base 1 + Acid 2

- H+

Acids 1 and acid 2 are usually of different strength

 Eg :
- H+

HCl + H2O Cl- + H3 O+

acid base base acid

+ H+
Exercise
Identify the acids and bases present in the
following reactions :
1. HCl + NH3 Cl- + NH4+
acid base base acid

2. HSO4- + H2O H3O+ + SO42-

acid base acid base
 3. CH3COO- + H2O CH3COOH + OH-
base acid acid base

4. H2O + CO32- OH- + HCO3-

acid base base acid

5. HSO4- + H3O+ H2SO4 + H2O

base acid acid base
 Note :
H2O and HSO4- are amphoteric species
 6. Kc values can be used to compare the
strength of the 2 acids or bases present in the
equilibrium
Eg : A + BH+ AH+ + B
base acid acid base
a. If Kc is large :
Position of equilibrium lies to the right
More products , more A and BH+ reacted
BH+ stronger acid / A is stronger base
 b. If Kc is small ,
Position of equilibrium lies to the left
More AH+ and B reacted
AH+ is stronger acid / B is stronger base
 Note:
In an equilibrium mixture containing 2
acids and bases,
a. the stronger acid and base will react
more
b. the strength can be determined based
on the position of equilibrium ( Kc value )
Past year Q (June 97/1/3)
a. What do you understand by the Bronsted
Lowry definitions of acids and bases?
b.For each of the reactions C and D,
i) identify the two acids and two bases present
ii) suggest , with reasons , which one ion or
molecule is the stronger acid , and which the
stronger base
 C: NH3 + H2O NH4+ + OH-
Kc = 1.8 x 10-5 mol dm-3

D: C6H5O- + CH3COOH C6H5OH +

CH3COO-
Kc = 1.3 x 106 mol dm-3