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Module 6 Acid Base Reactions

1. The document discusses the key characteristics and properties of acids and bases including their definitions according to different theories over time such as Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, and more. 2. It covers the main types of acids and bases, including strong vs weak acids/bases, and how their dissociation depends on factors like pH and dissociation constants. 3. The roles of indicators, neutralization reactions, and the development of ideas around what constitutes an acid and base historically are summarized.

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53 views

Module 6 Acid Base Reactions

1. The document discusses the key characteristics and properties of acids and bases including their definitions according to different theories over time such as Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, and more. 2. It covers the main types of acids and bases, including strong vs weak acids/bases, and how their dissociation depends on factors like pH and dissociation constants. 3. The roles of indicators, neutralization reactions, and the development of ideas around what constitutes an acid and base historically are summarized.

Uploaded by

isaheqq12
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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1.

Acid/Base strength and indicators


Introduction to acid and bases
Acid
Characteristics of acid
- Taste sour
- Produce hydrogen ions when dissolved in water
- Have pH below 7
- They are corrosive and will wear down materials like metals and skin
- They turn blue litmus indicator red

Hydronium ions
H+ forms hydronium (H3O+) with water, as it is more stable

Hydronium ion is often represented as a solvated hydrogen ion. So, hydrogen ion is essentially the
same as hydronium ion in acid/base reactions.

Base
Characteristics of base
- Taste bitter
- Have slippery or soap like feel
- Produce hydroxide ions in water
- Have pH above 7
- They are corrosive (caustic)
- They neutralise acids to produce salt and water
- They will turn red litmus indicator blue

Bases that dissolve in water are also known as alkalis

Types of bases
- Metal hydroxide
- Metal oxide
- Metal carbonates/hydrogen carbonates

Some other bases that don’t fall under such categories, such as:
- Ammonia
- Acetate ions
- Etc.
Strength of acids and bases
Strength of acids/bases: the extent of ionisation or dissociation in water. Stronger acid/base will
ionise further.

Strength is not related to concentration

Strong vs weak acids


A strong acid ionises completely in water to produce hydronium ions in aqueous solution. They are
strong electrolytes.

A weak acid ionises partially in water to form hydronium ions in water. They are weak electrolytes.

5 common strong acids (assume all other acids are weak)


- HCl (hydrochloric acid)
- HBr (hydrobromic acid)
- HI (hydroiodic acid)
- H2SO4 (Sulfuric acid)
- HNO3 (Nitric acid)

Strong acid ionisation equation (e.g.)


HCl(aq) + H2O(l)  H3O+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

Use irreversible arrow

Weak acid ionisation equation (e.g.)


H2CO3(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ H3O+(aq) + HCO3-(aq)

Use reversible arrow

Strong vs weak bases


A strong base disassociates completely in water, producing free hydroxide ions.

Common strong bases include Group 1 and 2 metal hydroxides. Although group two hydroxides are
strong bases, they are poorly soluble in water. Other metal hydroxides contain hydroxides, but do
not dissolve to produce a stoichiometric amount of hydroxide ions water. Therefore, they are not
considered strong bases.

Strong base dissociation equation (e.g.)


NaOH(s)  Na+(aq) + OH-(aq)

Use irreversible arrow. Does not react with water.

Weak base dissociation equation (e.g.)


NH3(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ NH4+(aq) + OH-(aq)

Use reversible arrow

Many weak bases are anions, contained within an ionic compound.


They must first undergo dissociation with water. Which is usually irreversible:
Na2CO3(s)  2Na+ (aq) + CO32-(aq)

Then, the dissolved anion reversibly accepts hydrogen ions from water, producing hydroxide ions:

CO32-(aq) +H2O(l) ⇌ HCO3-(aq) + OH-(aq)

Acid and base dissociation constants


Acid dissociation constant (Ka) and base dissociation constant (Kb) is a
measure of the extent of ionisation. Larger dissociation constant
means more dissociation. They work the same way as eqm
constants.

They are measured at 25 degrees Celsius.

Monoprotic vs polyprotic acids


Most acids are monoprotic, meaning they only produce one H+ ion. Therefore, they only have one Ka
Value.

Acids that can produce more than one hydrogen ions is polyprotic. They have more than one Ka.

Number of hydrogen ions each acid molecule produces is unrelated to its strength.

Indicator
Indicators measure pH of a solution.

pH = -log10[H+]
How indicators work
Most indicators are weak acids or bases.

They are systems at dynamic equilibrium.

Common indicators
Indicator Colour at low pH Colour at high pH pH of colour change range
Methyl orange red yellow 3.2-4.4
Litmus red blue 4.5-8.3
Bromothymol blue yellow blue 6.0-7.6
Phenolphthalein colourless pink 8.3-10.0
2. Neutralisation and acid/base theories
Reactions of acids
- Acid + metal hydroxide/oxide  salt + water
- Acid + metal carbonate/hydrogen carbonate  salt + water + carbon dioxide
- Acid + ammonia  ammonium salt
- Acid + reactive metals  salt + H2(g)

Reactive metals: above hydrogen on standard potential table

Enthalpy of neutralisation
Neutralisation: acid + base  salt +water

Neutralisation is an exothermic process. Therefore, enthalpy change is negative.

Equations used:

q=mcT

H = -q/n

q= energy absorbed (J/kJ)


m = mass of acid + base (kg)
C = specific heat capacity of final solution (J/kg/K)
T = change in temperature before and after reaction (K)
H = enthalpy change (kJ/mol)
n= number of moles of water (mol)

Enthalpy of neutralisation would be approximately the same for different acid and bases. If they are
strong acid and base. As their net ionic equation would be the same.

Enthalpy of weak acid would be higher, as they have more undissociated bonds. Therefore, would
take more energy to break

Neutralisation involving two steps (e.g. 2020HSC q36)


Sometimes, the base is added as a solid. Therefore, it must undergo dissociation first.

q1 is energy absorbed for dissociation

q2 is energy absorbed for neutralisation

q1 + q2 = mcT
Development of ideas of acids and bases
Chemist Name Definition of acid Definition of base
(In chronological order)
Lavoisier Oxygen is the unifying element of all /
acids

Limitation: HCl does not contain


oxygen
Davy Hydrogen is the unifying element of /
all acids

Limitation: does not explain CH4


contains hydrogen but is not acidic
Liebig Acids contained hydrogen which substances that neutralized acids with
could be replaced by reaction with a the production of salts
metal
Limitation: nothing was known about
Limitation: good definition for acids. the constitutional features of bases
But does not explain bases that enabled them to do this.
Arrhenius A substance that ionises in water to A substance that dissociates in water
produce hydrogen ions. to produce hydroxide ions.
Limitations:
- Does not explain basic behaviours of substances like ammonia, which do
not contain hydroxide ions in their formulae
- Only covers acid and bases in aqueous solutions
- Does not explain why some solutions produced through neutralisation
reactions are not neutral.
Brønsted–Lowry Proton donor Proton acceptor
Amphiprotic substances: species that can be classified as both an acid and a
base according to Bronsted-Lowry definitions.

Advantages:
- More general than Arrhenius definition but does not contradict it.
Sufficient to cover most situations.
- Allows more species to be defined as acid/base (such as ammonia)
- Explain basic behaviour of aqueous ionic compounds

Limitations:
- Does not explain acidic behaviour of non-metal oxides
- Cannot explain reaction between acidic oxides and basic oxides

HSC 2019 q28: Assess the usefulness of the Brønsted–Lowry model in classifying acids and bases.
Support your answer with at least TWO chemical equations.

HSC 2011 q29: Justify the continued use of the Arrhenius definition of acids and bases, despite the
development of the more sophisticated Brönsted–Lowry definition.

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