ACID /BASE STRENGTH AND CONCENTRATION

STRONG AND WEAK ACIDS

• Acid strength is the measure of the degree of ionization or dissociation of acids in a solution.

• Ionisation is the process by which neutral molecules split into ions in a solution. Then, the ionisation of
acid is the process by which acids split into ions in water.

• Therefore, acid strength corresponds to the extent to which an acid ionises and release H+ to the
solution.

• Strong acids are acids that completely ionise in water.

Examples of strong acids include

Hydrochloric acid (HCl),

Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and

Nitric acid (HNO3).

These acids completely ionise in water.

HCl(aq) → H+ (aq) + Cl− (aq

H2SO4(aq) → 2H+ (aq) + SO4 2− (aq)

HNO3(aq) → H+ (aq) + NO3 − (aq)

• Weak acids are acids that partially ionise in water.

Examples of weak acids include

ethanoic acid (CH3COOH),

phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and

carbonic acid (H2CO3).

These acids partially ionise in water.

CH3COOH(aq) ⇋ CH3COO− (aq) + H+ (aq)

H3PO4(aq) ⇋ H2PO4 − (aq) + H+ (aq)

H2CO3(aq) ⇋ HCO3 − (aq) + H+ (aq)

ACID CONCENTRATION

• Acid concentration is associated with the amount of H+ dissolved in a solvent.

• A concentrated acid solution is a solution with a large amount of H+ .

• A dilute acid solution is a solution with a small amount of H+ .

STRONG AND WEAK ALKALIS

• Like acid strength, base strength corresponds to the extent to which a base ionises in a water

. • Strong bases are bases that completely ionise in water.

Examples of strong bases include

sodium hydroxide (NaOH),

potassium hydroxide (KOH) and

calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2).

These bases completely ionise in water.

NaOH(aq) → Na+ (aq) + OH− (aq)

KOH(aq) → K+ (aq) + OH− (aq)

Ca(OH)2(aq) → Ca2+ (aq) + 2OH− (aq)

• Weak bases are bases that partially ionise in water.

The commonest weak base is ammonia (NH3).

NH3(g) + H2O(l) ⇋ NH4 + (aq) + OH− (aq)

BASE CONCENTRATION

• Base concentration is associated with the amount of OH− dissolved in water.

• A concentrated base solution is a solution with a large amount of OH− .

• A dilute base solution is a solution with a small amount of OH− .

 THE pH SCALE

• The pH scale is the measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution.

• The scale ranges from 0 to 14.

• It is based on the relative concentration of H+ and OH− in solution.

• A solution with a high H+ concentration is considered an acidic solution.

• A solution with a high OH− concentration is considered a basic solution (or alkaline solution).

• Acidic solutions have pH values below 7. Therefore, acid with a higher H+ concentration has a
lower pH value than acid with a lower H+ concentration.

• Basic solutions have pH values above 7. Therefore, a base with a higher H+ concentration has a
higher pH value than a base with a lower H+ concentration.

• pH 7 is neutral. Pure water has a pH value of 7.

pH INDICATORS

• A pH indicator is a substance that changes colour over a range of pH values when added to the
solution.

• The commonly used pH indicator is universal indicator.

• A pH meter is an instrument that is used to measure pH

LITMUS
• Litmus is used to find out whether the solution is acidic or basic.
• Litmus paper comes in two colours, namely blue litmus paper and red litmus paper.
• A blue litmus paper turns red in an acidic solution. However, in a basic and neutral solution, it
stays blue.
• A red litmus paper turns blue in basic solution. However, in an acidic and neutral solution, it
stays red.
UNIVERSAL INDICATOR
• The universal indicator is a mixture of pH indicators that show different colours at different pH
values.
• Unlike the litmus that shows a solution as either acidic or basic, the universal indicator also shows
the strength of the acidic or basic solution.
• The table below gives the range of colours and the pH values at which they are observed.
pH 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Colour Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Violet
Strength Strong acid Strong base

Neutral

TYPES OF OXIDES
• Oxides are compounds that contain at least one oxygen atom and another element.
• Oxides are classified as acidic oxides, basic oxides, amphoteric and neutral oxides.

1. ACIDIC OXIDES
• Acidic oxides are oxides of non-metals.
• Examples of acidic oxides include; carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen
dioxide (NO2).
• Acidic oxides react with water to form an acidic solution. For example, carbon dioxide reacts
with water to form carbonic acid.
CO2(g) + H2O(l) → H2CO3(aq)
• Acidic oxides react with bases to form salt and water. For example, carbon dioxide with react
calcium hydroxide and forms calcium carbonate and water.
CO2(g) + Ca(OH)2(aq) → CaCO3(s) + H2O(l)

2. BASIC OXIDES
• Basic oxides are oxides of metals.
• Examples of basic oxides include; magnesium oxide (MgO), calcium oxide (CaO), sodium
oxide (Na2O) and copper (II) oxide (CuO).
• Soluble basic oxides dissolve in water and form an alkaline solution.
Na2O(s) + H2O(l) → 2NaOH(aq)
CaO(s) + H2O(l) → Ca(OH)2(aq)
MgO(s) + H2O(l) → Mg(OH)2(aq)
• Basic oxides react with acid to form salt and water. For example, magnesium oxide reacts with
hydrochloric acid and form magnesium chloride and water.
MgO(s) + 2HCl(s) → MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)
3. AMPHOTERIC OXIDES
• Amphoteric oxides are metal oxides that react with both acids and bases
• Examples of amphoteric oxides include; aluminium oxide (Al2O3), zinc oxide (ZnO) and lead (II)
oxide (PbO).
• The reaction between amphoteric oxides and acids or bases produce salt and water.
• For example, aluminium oxide reacts with hydrochloric acid and form aluminium chloride and
water. Likewise, aluminium oxide reacts with concentrated sodium hydroxide and forms sodium
aluminate and water.
Al2O3(s) + 6HCl(aq) → 2AlCl3(aq) + 3H2O(l)
Al2O3(s) + 2NaOH(aq) → 2NaAlO2(aq) + H2O(l)

4. NEUTRAL OXIDES
• Neutral oxides are oxides that neither show acidic or basic properties.
• They do not react with either acids or bases.
• Examples of neutral oxides include; water (H2O), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO).