Acids & Bases

Equilibria
Ka – Acid Dissociation
Constant
 Ka will be a measure
of the level of
Recall: dissociation
 A strong acid:
 Gives up or transfers ALL of its H+ easily
 “Dissociates completely”
 Does not form equilibrium

 A weak acid:
 Does NOT give up or transfers all of its H+ easily
 “Partially Dissociates”
 Forms equilibrium
 Consider:
HA + H2O  H3O+ + A-

 Keq = [H3O+][A-]
[HA][H2O]
 Recall [H2O] is constant, so…
Conjugate Acid
Conjugate
 Keq x [H2O] = [H3O+][A-] Base
[HA] Acid
Ka = [H3O ][A ]
+ -

[HA]
 The greater the Ka, the stronger the acid

 If Ka <<<1 then very little of the acid

dissociates, therefore weak acid.

 Strengths of acids can be compared by

Ka.
 ex. nitrous acid Ka = 4.4 x 10-4
ethanoic acid Ka = 1.8 x 10-5
So nitrous acid is a stronger acid
 Percent Dissociation:
 Percentage that an acid dissociates
% = [H3O+]
[HA]
 high % = lots of dissociation (strong acid)
 Calculate the Ka of a 0.10M CH3COOH
solution, if the [H3O+] & the [CH3COO-] is
1.34 x 10-3M.
CH3COOH + H2O  H3O+ + CH3COO-

Ka = [H3O+][CH3COO-]
[CH3COOH]
Ka = 1.80 x 10-5
Ka = [1.34 x 10-3][1.34 x 10-3]
[0.1]
 Calculate the [H3O+] & the pH of a 0.25M
solution of CH3COOH. Ka = 1.80 x 10-5.
CH3COOH + H2O  H3O+ + CH3COO-

CH3COOH H3O+ CH3COO- Ka = [H3O+][CH3COO-]

[CH3COOH]
I 0.25 0 0
1.80 x 10-5 = [x][x]
C -x +x +x [0.25 – x]
E 0.25 – x x x [H3O+] = 2.12 x 10-3M

pH = 2.67
 Calculate the pH of a 0.75M HF solution.
Ka = 6.70 x 10-4.
HF + H2O  H3O+ + F-
HF H3O+ F- Ka = [H3O+][F-]
[HF]
I 0.75 0 0
6.70 x 10-4 = [x][x]
C -x +x +x
[0.75 – x]
E 0.75 – x x x [H3O+] = 2.24 x 10-2M

pH = 1.65
Calculate the [H3O+] of a 0.55M HCN solution. Also
calculate the % dissociation. Ka = 4.8 x 10-10
HCN + H2O  H3O+ + CN-
HCN H3O+ CN%
-
Dissociation
Ka = [H3O=+
][CN
[H3O] ] x 100
- +

[HCN] [HCN]
I 0.55 0 0
% Dissociation = [1.62 x 10 -5
] x 100
4.80 x 10 = [x][x]
-10
C -x +x +x [0.55]
[0.55 – x]
E 0.55 – x x x% Dissociation = 2.94 x 10-5 -3 %
[H O ] = 1.62 x 10 M
+
3

Very Small %
Weak Acid!
 Important Generalizations:
 The conjugate base of a strong acid is a VERY
weak base
 The conjugate base of a weak acid is a weak base
 The conjugate base of a VERY weak acid is a
strong base

 The conjugate acid of a VERY weak base is a

strong acid
 The conjugate acid of a weak base is a weak acid
 The conjugate acid of a strong base is a VERY
weak acid