Concentration of Acid and Alkali

1. Concentration of a solution is the measurement which shows the quantity of a dissolved solute in 1 dm3
of the solution.
mass of solute ( g )
2. Concentration of a solution   g / dm 3 or g dm 3
volume of solution (dm 3 )
number of moles of solute (mol )
3. Concentration of a solution   mol / dm 3 or mol dm 3
volume of solution (dm 3 )

4. 1 dm 3  1000 cm 3
5. Molarity of a solution = concentration of the solution in unit mol dm-3.
6. Example:
Compound Relative Mass (g) Volume of Concentration Molarity
Molecular Mass water g dm-3 mol dm-3
Sulphuric 2(1) + 32 + 4(16) 9.8 g 500 cm3
acid = 98
H2SO4
Sodium 23 + 16 + 1 = 40 2g 250 cm3
hydroxide
NaOH

MV
7. Number of moles 
1000
where M = molarity of solution (mol dm-3)
V = volume of solution (cm3)
Number of moles  MV
where M = molarity of solution (mol dm-3)
V = volume of solution (dm3)
8. Calculate the molarity for 14.9 g dm-3 of potassium chloride, KCl solution.

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9. Calculate the concentration in g dm-3 for 0.3 mol dm-3 of barium hydroxide, Ba(OH)2 solution.

10. Calculate the mass of potassium carbonate, K2CO3, in 400 cm3 of 60 g dm-3 potassium carbonate
solution.

11. Which of the following solutions contain the highest concentration of hydrogen ions?
a) 2 dm3 of 0.2 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid solution
b) 3 dm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 nitric acid solution
c) 1 dm3 of 0.5 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid solution
d) 2 dm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 ethanoic acid solution

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Preparation of a standard solution
1. To prepare 100 cm3 of standard solution of 0.1 mol dm-3 sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH.

Therefore, this standard solution can be prepared by dissolving _____________ of solid sodium hydroxide
into 100 cm3 distilled water in a 100 cm3 volumetric flask.
2. To prepare 250 cm3 of standard solution of 0.5 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid, HCl.

Therefore, this standard solution can be prepared by dissolving _____________ of hydrochloric acid
into 250 cm3 distilled water in a 250 cm3 volumetric flask.

Preparation of a solution by using dilution method

1. Water is added into a concentrated standard solution that is called stock solution.
2. M 1V1  M 2V2
where M1 = molarity of original solution M2 = molarity of new solution
V1 = volume of original solution V2 = volume of new solution
3. To prepare 250 cm3 of standard solution of 0.5 mol dm-3 sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH through the
dilution of 5 mol dm-3 NaOH solution.

Therefore, this standard solution can be prepared by adding ____________ of 5 mol dm-3 sodium hydroxide
solution to _______________ distilled water.
4. To prepare 100 cm3 of standard solution of 0.05 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid solution through the
dilution of 0.1 mol dm-3 HCl solution.

Therefore, this standard solution can be prepared by adding ____________ of 0.1 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid
solution to _______________ distilled water.
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5. Calculate the molarity of a sulphuric acid solution that can be prepared by diluting 500 cm3of 0.5 mol dm-3
H2SO4 with 200 cm3 distilled water.

Neutralisation
1. Neutralisation is a reaction which occurs between an acid and a base or alkali to produce salt and water only.
2. Hydrochloric + Sodium → Sodium + Water
acid hydroxide chloride
Chemical equation:
HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O

Ionic equation:

3. Sulphuric + Potassium → Potassium + Water

acid hydroxide sulphate
Chemical equation:
H2SO4 + 2KOH → K2SO4 + 2H2O

Ionic equation:

4. _______________ is a method used to determine the volume of acid needed to completely neutralise a given
volume of alkali and vice versa, and hence, determine the _______________________ of an alkali.
In this method, the volume and concentration of acid and the volume of alkali are known.
At the _______________________, which the acid-base indicator changes colour, neutralisation occurs
completely.
5. The example of acid-base indicators in titration:
Acid-base indicator Colour in acidic solution Colour in neutral solution Colour in alkaline solution
Phenolphthalein colourless colourless pink
Methyl orange red orange yellow

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6. Number of moles for acid a M 1V1 a
 
Number of moles for base b M 2V2 b
M1V1
1000  a
M 2V2 b
1000

7. 15 cm3 of 1 mol dm-3 potassium hydroxide solution reacts completely with 10 cm3 of dilute nitric acid.
Calculate the molarity of nitric acid.

8. 60 cm3 of sodium hydroxide solution reacts completely with 60 cm3 of 1 mol dm-3 dilute sulphuric acid.
Calculate the molarity of sodium hydroxide solution.

9. 30 cm3 of 5.6 g dm-3 potassium hydroxide solution reacts completely with 15 cm3 of dilute sulphuric acid.
Calculate the molarity of sulphuric acid.

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10. Application of neutralisation:
Gastric pills contain base Mg(OH)2 Pain is reduced by alkaline
antiseptic.

Hair conditioner contains weak Pain is reduced by acidic solution

acid such as vinegar.

Toothpaste contains base Mg(OH)2 Neutralises acid produced by

bacteria in our mouth.

Acidic ant bites and bee stings Reduces the soil acidity.

Alkaline wasp stings Neutralises excess hydrochloric

acid in the stomach.

Limestone (CaCO3), quicklime Neutralises shampoo, which is a

(CaO) and slaked lime (Ca(OH)2) weak alkali, causes hair to feel
soft.

Exercise 1
1. Calculate the molarity:
a) 500 cm3 nitric acid that contains 0.05 mol nitric acid.
b) 28 g of potassium hydroxide which dissolved in 200 cm3 of water.
2. Calculate the mass of:
a) calcium hydroxide in 200 cm3 of 0.01 mol dm-3 calcium hydroxide solution.
b) barium hydroxide in 250 cm3 of 0.2 mol dm-3 barium hydroxide solution.
c) sulphuric acid in 2 dm3 of 0.5 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid solution.
3. Calculate the number of moles of:
a) sodium hydroxide in 100 cm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 sodium hydroxide solution.
b) hydrochloric acid in 2 dm3 of 1.5 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid solution.
c) potassium carbonate in 200 cm3 of 60 g dm-3 potassium carbonate solution.
4. Calculate the volume of:
a) hydrochloric acid solution which can be prepared by dissolving 0.1 mol of hydrochloric acid in water to
produce 0.2 mol dm-3 of solution.
b) lithium hydroxide solution which can be prepared by dissolving 1.2 g of lithium hydroxide in water to
produce 0.2 mol dm-3 of solution.
c) ammonia solution which can be prepared by dissolving 1.7 g of ammonia gas in water to produce 0.8
mol dm-3 of solution.

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 5. The molarity of solution X is 0.4 mol dm-3. Calculate the relative molecular mass of X if the
concentration of the solution in 14.6 g dm-3.
6. The concentration of hydrogen ions in a dilute sulphuric acid solution is 0.1 mol dm-3. Calculate the
molarity of the solution if the acid ionises completely in water.

Exercise 2
1. If 50 cm3 of 0.2 mol dm-3 barium hydroxide solution is neutralised completely by 0.5 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid
solution, what is the volume of the sulphuric acid solution used?
2. If 10 cm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 potassium hydroxide solution is neutralised completely by 7.3 g dm-3 hydrochloric
acid, what is the volume of the hydrochloric acid used?
3. If 50 cm3 of nitric acid reacts completely with 75 cm3 of 2 mol dm-3 potassium hydroxide solution, calculate
the molarity of nitric acid.
4. If 30 cm3 of 1.5 mol dm-3 zinc chloride solution reacts completely with 50 cm3 of silver nitrate solution,
calculate the molarity of silver nitrate solution.
5. By using the suitable examples, explain briefly why the pH values for strong acid and weak acid are
different although both acid solutions obtain the same concentration.

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