Just When It’s Safe to Go

Back Into the Water

The Acidic or Basic Quality of Salts
 Acid Equilibrium Review
 Weak acids form equilibria in aqueous solutions
according to the following general pattern
 HX (aq) H+1 (aq) + X-1 (aq)
 The equilibrium constant follows the form
 Ka = [H+1][X-1]/[HX]
 The reaction can be shifted according to
LeChatelier’s Principle
 Base Equilibrium Review
 Weak bases form equilibria in water similar to
the example of ammonia
 NH3 + HOH NH4+1 + OH-1
 The equilibrium constant would be
 Kb = [NH4+1][OH-1]/[NH3]
 Again, LeChatelier’s Principle can be used to
explain or predict shifts
And, Water Has Its Equilibrium Too
 Water forms an equilibrium that can be affected
by any substance dissolved into solution
 The equilibrium involves the water molecule,
hydrogen ion, and hydroxide ion
 H2O H+1 + OH-1
 The equilibrium constant, Kw, takes the form
 Kw = [H+1][OH-1]
 Kw = 1 x 10-14
 Conjugate Acids and Bases
 An acid-base reaction produces new materials
which may be classified as conjugate acids (or
bases)
 Weak acid (or base) equilibria often produce
anions (or cations) with significant base (or acid)
properties
 The weaker the original acid (or base) the
stronger its conjugate base (or acid)
 Acetic Acid, for example
 When acetic acid dissolves in water it forms
hydrogen ion and acetate ion
 CH3COOH (aq) CH3COO-1 + H+1
 The acetate ion has some basic properties (It is
the conjugate base for acetic acid in the
reaction.)
 Therefore, it can be expected that solutions
(which might carelessly be considered neutral)
containing acetate ion might be basic
 An Acetate Solution Example
 Suppose a solution of sodium acetate,
CH3COO-Na+, is made
 The acetate and sodium ions separate
 CH3COO-Na+ CH3COO- + Na+
 Each ion may have acidic or basic properties
 To analyze this we see what would be produced
if each ion reacted with water
 These Are Called Hydrolysis
Reactions
 Sodium ion reacting with water
 Na+1 + HOH NaOH + H+1
 The products are NaOH and H+1. The NaOH is
strong and dissociates 100%. Thus, no difference
between [H+1] and [OH-1] is created
 Acetate ion reacting with water
 CH3COO-1 + HOH CH3COOH + OH-1
 The products are CH3COOH and OH-1. Acetic acid is
weak and doesn’t dissociate 100%. So, more [OH-
1]>[H+1]. It’s a basic solution.
 Generalizing for Hydrolysis
 Check the reaction impact of the ions from a
salt (MX) with water
 M+1 + HOH MOH + H+1
 X-1 + HOH HX + OH-1
 If either the acid or base produced is weak the
salt has acidic/basic properties
 These reactions are equilibrium reactions and
will have K values
 K Values for Hydrolysis Reactions
 Using a specific example of  CH3COO- CH3COOH + OH-1
sodium acetate the hydrolysis
reaction is
 Ka = [H+1][CH3COO-]/[CH3COOH]
 The Ka value for acetic acid is

 The K formula for the hydroysis  Kh = [CH3COOH][OH-]/[CH3COO-]

reaction would be
 1/Ka = [CH3COOH]/[CH3COO-][H+]
 Inverting the Ka gives
 Kw/Ka = [CH3COOH][H+][OH-]
[CH3COO-][H+]
 Mulitplying this by Kw gives
Kh = [CH3COOH][OH-]/[CH3COO-]
 So, Kh = Kw/Ka
 A Specific Example
 Predict a pH for 0.25 M  Equilibrium “chart”
sodium acetate solution. CH3COO- CH3COOH + OH-
S 0.25 0 0
 The reaction for acetate ion D -x x x
is: Eq 0.25-x x x
CH3COO- CH3COOH + OH-

 Ka for acetic acid is 1.8x10-5  5.56x10-10 = x2/0.25 *

 Kh = 1x10-14/1.8x10-5 x = 1.18 x 10-5
= 5.56x10-10 So, pOH = 4.93 and
pH = 9.07
* The “x” term was dropped as x << 0.25
I’m Not Sayin’ This Will Help But…