ACIDS

AND
BASES

Characteristics of Acids
Taste Sour
React with metals
Electrolytes (conduct
electricity)
Affect indicators
(red=acid)

Neutralize Bases
pH between 0 and <7

Characteristics of Bases
Taste Bitter
Feel Slippery
Electrolytes (conduct
electricity)
Neutralize Acids
(Antacids)
Affect indicators
(base=blue)
pH between >7 and 14

Examples of Acids
HCl
H2SO4
HNO3
Juices, Soda

Examples of Bases
NaOH
Ca(OH)2
KOH
Soap, Ammonia,
Baking Soda

There are 2 definitions

for acids and bases

Arrhenius Theory
Brnsted-Lowry
Theory

Arrehenius Theory
ON ACIDS

An acid is a substance
that ionizes in water to
+
give hydrogen ions (H )

Arrehenius Theory
ON BASES

An base is a substance
that ionizes in water to
give hydroxide ions
(OH )

An example of the reaction

of Hydrochloric Acid:
HCl + H2O H3O+ + Cl-

When the HCl breaks apart the

+
free H is attracted to the H2O and
forms a HYDRONIUM ION

An example of the reaction

of Potassium Hydroxide:
+
KOH + H2O K + 2OH

When the KOH breaks

apart it forms the
HYDROXIDE ION (OH )

So who is the
Arrhenius Acid given:
H2SO4 + H2O H3O+ + HSO4-

H2SO4

Why?

Because it produces H

So who is the
Arrhenius Base given:
NaOH + H2O Na+ + OH- + H2O

NaOH
Why?
Because it produces OH

The world was cool with

the Arrehenius definition
until NH3 (Ammonia)
came along.
When combined with
water
it did not make OH ions
looks like we need
a new definition.

Brnsted-Lowry Theory
ON ACIDS

Acids are substances

that are capable of
+
donating a proton (H )

Brnsted-Lowry Theory
ON BASES

Bases are substances

that are capable of
+
accepting a proton (H )

Example of Brnsted
Acids and Bases:
NH3 + H2O NH4 + OH
+

Here, H2O acts as a

Brnsted acid by donating a
proton to NH3 which acts as
a Brnsted base.

Example of Brnsted
Acids and Bases:
NH4 + OH NH3 + H2O
+

In this case, NH4 acts as an

acid which donates a
proton to OH . OH acts as
a base.
+

Conjugate Acid
The substance
formed when a base
+
accepts a H ion

Conjugate Base
The substance that
remains after an
acid has donated
+
a H ion

Conjugate Acid and Base

+
NH3 + H2O NH4 + OH
NH4 + OH NH3 + H2O
+

For example, NH4 is the

st
conjugate acid of NH3 (1
equation), and NH3 is the
+
nd
conjugate base of NH4 (2
+

What is pH?
A measurement of the
concentration of
+
+
H3O ions
(H
ions)

pH Scale

What is pH?
Kw = [H ][OH ] = 1 x 10
+

pH = -log[H ]
+

pOH = -log[OH ]
-

-14

pH Scale

Neutralization of Bases using Acids

Neutralization
nMV = nMV
acid

base

How many milliliters of

0.80 M HCl are needed to
neutralize 35 mL of 1.5 M
NaOH?
HCl + NaOH NaCl + H2O
mL

What is the concentration

of a solution of H2SO4 if it
takes 35 mL to neutralize
55 mL of 1.5 M KOH?
H2SO4 + Mg(OH)2 MgSO4 + 2 H2O

How many milliliters of

1.8 M HCl are needed to
neutralize 85 mL of 1.0 M
NaOH?
HCl + NaOH NaCl + H2O
47 mL

Interesting fact
Water can
act as an
acid or a
base!!!

Lewis Theory
ON ACIDS

Acids are substances

that are electron-pair
receptors

Lewis Theory
ON BASES

Bases are substances

capable of donating
electron-pairs

Amphoteric
A substance that can act
as either an acid or a
base.