CHEMISTRY

Matter and Change

Module 17: Acids and Bases

 Lesson 3

Hydrogen Ions and pH

 1
SECTION Hydrogen Ions and pH
7.3

• Explain pH and pOH. Le Châtelier’s principle:

• Relate pH and pOH to the states that if a stress is
ion product constant for applied to a system at
water. equilibrium, the system
shifts in the direction that
• Calculate the pH and pOH relieves the stress
of aqueous solutions.

pH and pOH are logarithmic ion product constant

scales that express the for water
concentrations of hydrogen
ions and hydroxide ions in pH
aqueous solutions. pOH
 1
SECTION Hydrogen Ions and pH
7.3

CLASS DISCUSSION

● What do you understand by pH and pOH?

 Ion Product Constant for Water
• Pure water contains equal concentrations of H+
and OH– ions produced by self-ionization.
• The equation for the equilibrium can be simplified
as follows.

• In the self-ionization of water, one water molecule

acts as an acid, and the other acts as a base.
 Ion Product Constant for Water

• The ion product constant for water, Kw is the

value of the equilibrium constant expression
for the self-ionization of water.
 Ion Product Constant for Water

• With pure water at 298 K, both [H+] and [OH–]

are equal to 1.0 × 10–7M.

• According to Le Châtelier’s Principle, as [H+]

goes up, [OH–] must go down.
Check your understnding
CALCULATE [H+] AND [OH–] USING KW

Use with Example Problem 1.

Problem
At 298 K, the H+ ion concentration in a cup of
coffee is 1.0 × 10-5M. What is the OH– ion
concentration in the coffee? Is the coffee acidic,
basic, or neutral?
Response
ANALYZE THE PROBLEM
You are given the concentration of the H+ ion, and
you know that Kw equals 1.0 × 10–14. You can use
the ion product constant expression to solve for
[OH–]. Because [H+] is greater than 1.0 × 10–7, you
can predict that [OH–] will be less than 1.0 × 10–7.
EVALUATE THE ANSWER

KNOWN UNKNOWN The answer is correctly stated with two significant

figures because [H+] and Kw each have two
[H+] = 1.0 × 10–5M [OH–] = ? mol/L significant figures. As predicted, [OH–] is less than
Kw = 1.0 × 10–14 1.0 × 10–7 mol/L.
Check your understnding
 pH and pOH

• Concentrations of H+ and OH−

ions are often small numbers
expressed in scientific notation.
• pH and pOH are easier ways to
express these small
concentrations.
• pH is the negative logarithm of
the hydrogen ion concentration
of a solution.
pH = –log [H+]
CALCULATE PH FROM [H+]

Use with Example Problem 2. SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN

Problem • State the equation for pH.

What is the pH of a neutral solution at pH = –log [H+]
298 K? • Substitute [H+] = 1.0 × 10–7M.
Response pH = –log (1.0 × 10–7)
ANALYZE THE PROBLEM The pH of the neutral solution at 298 K is
In a neutral solution at 298 K, 7.00.
[H+] = 1.0 × 10–7M. You must find the
negative log of [H+]. EVALUATE THE ANSWER
Values for pH are expressed with as many
KNOWN decimal places as the number of significant
figures in the H+ ion concentration. The pH
[H+] = 1.0 × 10–7M is correctly stated with two decimal places.
UNKNOWN
pH = ?
 pH and pOH
• The pOH of a solution is the negative logarithm
of the hydroxide ion concentration.
pOH = –log [OH–]
• The sum of pH and pOH is 14.
pH + pOH = 14
 pH and pOH

• For all strong monoprotic acids, the

concentration of the acid is the concentration
of H+ ions.
• For all strong bases, the concentration of the
base is the concentration of available OH– ions.
• Weak acids and weak bases only partially
ionize, so Ka and Kb values must be used to
calculate pH and pOH.
• Litmus paper or a pH meter with electrodes
can be used to determine the pH of a solution.
pH and pOH
pH and pOH
CALCULATE pOH AND pH FROM [OH–]

Use with Example Problem 3.

Problem
KNOWN UNKNOWN
A cow is being fed straw and hay that has
been treated with ammonia. The addition [OH–] = 4.0 × 10-3M pOH = ?
of ammonia to animal feed promotes
protein growth in the animal. Another use pH = ?
of ammonia is as a household cleaner,
which is an aqueous solution of ammonia SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN
gas. A typical cleaner has a hydroxide-ion • State the equation for pOH.
concentration of 4.0 × 10–3M. Calculate the
pOH and pH of a cleaner at 298 K. pOH = –log [OH–]
• Substitute [OH–] = 4.0 × 10–3M.
Response
pOH = –log (4.0 × 10–3 )
ANALYZE THE PROBLEM
You have been given the concentration of The pOH of the solution is 2.40.
hydroxide ion and must calculate pOH
and pH. First, calculate pOH using its
definition. Then, calculate pH using the
relationship pH + pOH = 14.00.
CALCULATE pOH AND pH FROM [OH–]

SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN (continued) EVALUATE THE ANSWER

Use the relationship between pH and pOH to The given concentration has two
find the pH. significant figures, so pH and pOH are
• State the equation that relates pH and correctly expressed with two decimal
pOH. places. Because ammonia is a base, a
small pOH value and a large pH value are
pH + pOH = 14.00 reasonable.
• Solve for pH.
pH = 14.00 – pOH
• Substitute pOH = 2.40.
pH = 14.00 – 2.40 = 11.60
The pH of the solution is 11.60.
CALCULATE [H+] AND [OH–] FROM pH
KNOWN UNKNOWN
Use with Example Problem 4.
pH = 7.40 [H+] = ? mol/L
Problem
+ –
[OH–] = ? mol/L
What are [H ] and [OH ] in a healthy
person’s blood that has a pH of 7.40?
Assume that the temperature of the blood SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN
is 298 K. Determine [H+].
• State the equation for pH.
Response
pH = –log [H+]
ANALYZE THE PROBLEM
You have been given the pH of a solution • Multiply both sides of the equation by –1.
and must calculate [H+] and [OH–]. You can –pH = log [H+]
obtain [H+] using the equation that • Take the antilog of each side to solve for [H+].
defines pH. Then, subtract the pH from
14.00 to obtain the pOH and use the [H+] = antilog (–pH)
equation that defines pOH to get [OH–]. • Substitute pH = 7.40.
[H+] = antilog (–7.40)
CALCULATE [H+] AND [OH–] FROM pH
SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN (continued)
• Multiply both sides of the equation by − 1.
SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN (continued)
−pOH = log [OH−]
• A calculator shows that the antilog of
–7.40 is 4.0 × 10−8. • Take the antilog of each side and substitute
pOH = 6.60.
[H+] = 4.0 × 10−8M
[OH−] = antilog (−6.60)
The concentration of H+ ions in the blood is
4.0 × 10–8 M. • A calculator shows that the antilog of
−6.60 is 2.5 × 10−7.
Determine [OH–].
[OH−] = 2.5 × 10−7 M.
• State the equation that relates pH and
pOH. The concentration of OH- ions in the blood is 2.5
× 10−7M.
pH + pOH = 14.00
• Solve for pOH.
EVALUATE THE ANSWER
pOH = 14.00 − pH
The given pH has two decimal places, so the
• Substitute pH = 7.40.
answers must have two significant figures. A [H+]
pOH = 14.00 − 7.40 = 6.60 less than 10−7 and a [OH−] greater than 10−7 are
• State the equation for pOH. reasonable, given the initial pH.
pOH = −log [OH−]
CALCULATE Ka FROM pH
KNOWN
Use with Example Problem 5.
pH = 2.38
Problem
Formic acid is used to process latex tapped concentration of the solution = 0.100M
from rubber trees into natural rubber. The pH UNKNOWN
of a 0.100M solution of formic acid (HCOOH) is Ka = ?
2.38. What is Ka for HCOOH?

Response SOLVE FOR THE UNKNOWN

ANALYZE THE PROBLEM Use the pH to calculate [H+].
You are given the pH of the formic acid solution, • Write the equation for pH.
which allows you to calculate the concentration pH = −log [H+]
of the hydrogen ion.
• Multiply both sides by −1 and take the
+ –
HCOOH(aq) ⇋ H (aq) + HCOO (aq) antilog of each side.
The balanced chemical equation shows that the [H+] = antilog (−pH)
concentration of HCOO– equals the concentration
• Substitute pH = 2.38.
of H+. The concentration of un-ionized HCOOH is
the difference between the initial concentration [H+] = antilog (−2.38)
of the acid and [H+].
CALCULATE Ka FROM pH

EVALUATE THE ANSWER

The Ka is reasonable for a weak acid. The
answer is correctly reported with two
significant figures.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN pKa AND pH
 1
SECTION CLASS ACTIVITY
Hydrogen Ions and pH
7.3 DIFERENTIATED TASK
1. Nicotinic acid (HC2H4NO2) is a B vitamin. It is also a weak acid

with a Ka = l.4 x 10-5. What is the [H+] and pH of a 0.010 M

solution?

2. For the acid HCN Ka= 4.0 x 10-10 What is the [H+] and pH of a
0.010 M solution?

3. Ka for HNO2 = 4.5 x 10-4 . Find the pH of a 0.9 M solution.

4. Calculate the [H+], [OH-], pH and pOH for each of the following:
a) 0.367 M HNO2; Ka=7.1 x 10-4

b) 1.32 M HOCl; Ka=3.0 x 10-8

c) 2.92 M HCN; Ka=6.2 x 10-10

5. CRITICAL THINKING: Calculate the pH and pOH of a solution

 1
SECTION Hydrogen Ions and pH
7.3

PLENARY