Acid & Base

Equilibria
Kb – Base Dissociation
Constant
 Kb will be a measure
of the level of
Recall: dissociation
 A strong base:
 Attracts/acceptsH+ easily
 “Dissociates completely”
 Does not form equilibrium
 Only two strong bases O2- & NH2-

 A weak base:
 Does NOT accept or attract H+ easily
 “Partially Dissociates”
 Forms equilibrium
 Consider:
NH3 + H2O  NH4+ + OH-

 Keq = [NH4+][OH-]
[NH3][H2O]
 Recall [H2O] is constant, so…
Conjugate Acid
Conjugate
 Keq x [H2O] = [NH4 ][OH ]
+ -
Base
[NH3] Base
Kb = [OH ][NH4 ]
- +

[NH3]
 The greater the Kb, the stronger the base

 If Kb <<<1 then very little of the base

accepts/attracts H+, therefore weak base.

 Strengths of bases can be compared by

Kb.
 ex. ammonia Kb = 1.8 x 10-5
HCO3- Kb = 2.3 x 10-8
So ammonia is a stronger base
Relationship between Ka & Kb:
 Ka & Kb of conjugate acid-base pairs are
related:

Ka x Kb = Kw

 Ex. NH3 & NH4+

C. acid, NH4+, Ka = 5.59 x 10-10 1.0 x 10-14
Base, NH3, Kb = 1.79 x 10-5
 Calculate the Kb for CN- acting as a base
in water. The Ka of HCN = 4.8 x 10-10.
CN- + H2O  HCN + OH-

Ka x Kb = Kw

Kb = Kw
Ka Kb = 2.08 x 10-5

Kb = 1.0 x 10 -14
4.8 x 10-10
 Calculate the Kb for 0.25M X-, if the [OH-]
& [HX] is 2.0 x 10-4 M.
X- + H2O  HX + OH-

Kb = [HX][OH-]
[HX] Kb = 1.60 x 10-7

Kb = [2.0 x10-4][2.0 x 10-4] [0.25]

 Calculate the pH of a 0.10M NH3 solution. The
Ka of NH4+ is 5.59 x 10-10.
NH3 + H2O  NH4+ + OH-
NH3 is a BASE!
Kb = [NH4+][OH-]
Need Kb
[NH3]

Kb = Kw 1.79 x 10-5 = [x][x]

[0.10 – x]
Ka
Kb = 1.0 x 10 -14 [OH-] = 1.34 x 10-3M
5.59 x 10-10
pOH = 2.87
Kb = 1.79 x 10-5 pH = 11.13
Amphoteric – Acid or Base?
 Recall some molecules can act as an acid
or a base

 Comparing the Ka & Kb will determine

whether an amphoteric substance is
“acting” acidic or basic.
 The amphoteric anion HCO3-1 has a Ka
value of 4.7 x 10-11. If HCO3-1 was placed in
water, would the solution be acidic or basic?
Write out the equations as it “acts”
like an acid & a base

HCO3-1 + H2O  CO3-2 + H3O+ Ka = 4.7 x 10-11

HCO3-1 + H2O  H2CO3 + OH- Kb = ?2.13 x 10-4
Calculate Kb & compare to Ka

Kb = 1.0 x 10-14 Kb > Ka

4.7 x 10-11 Therefore
Kb = 2.13 x 10-4 solution is BASIC