Topic 12: Acid-Base Equilibria

pH and Ka
Lesson Objectives:
be able to define the term ‘pH’

be able to calculate pH from hydrogen ion concentration

be able to calculate the concentration of hydrogen ions, in mol dm-3,

in a solution from its pH, using the expression [H+] = 10–pH

be able to calculate the pH of a strong acid

be able to deduce the expression for the acid dissociation constant,

Ka, for a weak acid and carry out relevant calculations

be able to calculate the pH of a weak acid making relevant

assumptions

be able to calculate Ka for a weak acid from experimental data given

the pH of a solution containing a known mass of acid
“pH is the measure of acidity of a solution on a logarithmic scale from 0
to 14.”
At 25oC, the pH of water is 7.

The pH of a solution can be determined either by using a pH meter or

by using a universal indicator.
When a strong acid is placed in solution it will completely dissociate.

∴ the H+ ion concentration is directly related to concentration of the acid.

HCl  H+ + Cl-

0.100 mol Will produce 0.100

dm-3 of HCl mol dm-3 of H+

This only applies to

strong acids.
A 0.400 mol dm-3 solution of H2SO4 was made. What will be the H + ion
concentration in the solution?

H2SO4  2H+ + SO42-

There is a 1:2 ratio between the H2SO4 and H+ ions.

∴ 0.400 mol dm-3 x 2 = 0.800 mol dm-3 of H+ ions.

So how does this link to pH?

pH can be expressed using the following equation:

pH = -log[H+]

So the concentration H+ of can be expressed as:

[H+] = 10-pH
Calculate the pH of a solution of 2.6x10-3 mol dm–3 of HCl.
(1)

HCl is a strong acid so it fully dissociates:

HCl  H+ + Cl-

This means that it will form 2.6x10-3 mol dm–3 of H+ ions:

[H+] = 2.6x10-3 mol dm-3

pH = -log 2.6x10-3 = 2.6

Calculate the concentration of hydrogen ions, in mol dm–3, in a solution with
a pH of 9.43.
(1)

[H+] = 10-pH

[H+] = 10-9.43

[H+] = 3.72x10-10 mol dm-3

What is the hydronium ion (H3O+) concentration in a solution that has a pH
of 8.34?
(1)

8.34 = - log [H3O+]

-8.34 = log [H3O+]

[H3O+] = 10-8.34 = 4.57 x 10-9 mol dm-3

Calculate the pH for 0.0200 mol dm-3 of H2SO4 solution.

For a diprotic strong acid, the concentration of hydrogen ions is double the
concentration of the acid.

0.0200 mol dm-3 of sulphuric acid will produce 0.0400 mol dm-3 of
hydrogen ions.

pH = - log (0.04) = 1.4

Ka
Since dissociation is an equilibrium reaction, it has
an equilibrium expression and constant:

HA ⇌ [H+] + [A-]

Ka = [H+] [A-] Rearranged [H+] = Ka x [HA]

[HA] [A–]

As with all equilibria constants, Ka is only altered by changes in temperature.

Since Ka is the equilibrium constant for the dissociation, the larger
the Ka value, the stronger the acid according to the relationship:

Ka = [H+] [A-]
HA ⇌ [H+] + [A-]
[HA]

Acid Formula Ka
–​4
Methanoic HCOOH 1.8 × 10
acid
Strength

–5
Ethanoic acid CH3COOH 1.8 × 10
–5
Propanoic C2H5COOH 1.4 × 10
acid
Ka = [H+] [A-] Ka = [H+]2
[HA] [HA]
When calculating the pH of a weak acid, we make two assumptions:

- That [H+] = [A-] since the concentration of H+ and A- are always the
same for monoprotic acids.
So, the Ka expression can be given as:

Ka = [H+] [A-] Ka = [H+]2

[HA] [HA]

- That so little HA dissociates, due to it being a weak acid that we

assume equilibrium [HA] = initial [HA]
Calculating pH using Ka
Calculate the pH of a 0.01 mol dm-3 solution of propanoic acid.
Ka for the acid = 1.3x10-5 mol dm-3

We start by calculating the [H+] using: Ka = [H+]2

[HX]
[H+]2 = Ka x [HX]

[H+]2 = 0.01 mol dm-3 x 1.3x10-5 mol dm-3 = 1.3x10-7 mol2 dm-6

[H+] = √1.3x10-7 mol2 dm-6 = 3.61x10-4 mol dm-3

pH = - log(3.61x10-4) = 3.4
Practice Question: calculating concentration
An monprotic acid with a Ka of 4.1 x 10-6 mol dm-3 has a pH of 4.5.
Find the concentration of the acid.

We assume initial [HA] = equilibrium [HA]

[H+] = 10-4.5 = 3.16 x 10-5 mol dm-3 Ka = [H+]2

[HX]

[HX] = [H+]2 [HX] = (3.16 x 10-5)2

= 2.44 × 10–4 mol dm-3
Ka 4.1 x 10-6
The pH of a solution of ethanoic acid (CH3COOH), made by dissolving
1.31g of ethanoic acid in 250cm³ of distilled water, was found to be
2.84. Calculate the value of Ka for the acid.

Find the moles of acid in the solution: Ka = [H+]2

Mr = (2x12.0) + (2x16.0) + (4x1.0) = 60 [HA]
Moles = 1.31g / 60 = 0.02183 mol [H+] = 10-pH

Find the conc. of the acid:

Conc. = 0.02183 / 0.25dm3 = 0.0873 mol dm-3

Find [H+]: Ka = 0.001442

[H+] = 10-2.84 = 0.00144 mol dm-3 = 2.4 x 10-5 mol dm-3
0.0873
Let’s look at a really tricky question…

A weak acid, HX, has a Ka value of 5.25 × 10−5 mol dm−3. A solution was
formed by mixing 10.5 cm3 of 0.800 mol dm−3 dilute sodium hydroxide with
25.0 cm3 of 0.920 mol dm−3 HX(aq).
Calculate the pH of the solution formed, showing all your working.
(5)
A weak acid, HX, has a Ka value of 5.25 × 10−5 mol dm−3. A solution was
formed by mixing 10.5 cm3 of 0.800 mol dm−3 dilute sodium hydroxide with
25.0 cm3 of 0.920 mol dm−3 HX(aq).
Calculate the pH of the solution formed, showing all your working.
We want to calculate [H+] to use for pH = -log[H+] (5)
and since we have been told Ka, we can use: Ka = [H+] [X-]
[HX]
Firstly, calculate the excess HX after reacting with the NaOH:
Mol NaOH = 0.800 x (10.5/1000) = 0.0084 mol
Mol HX = 0.920 x (25/1000) = 0.023 mol
So, moles of unreacted HX:
0.023 – 0.0084 = 0.0146 mol
A weak acid, HX, has a Ka value of 5.25 × 10−5 mol dm−3. A solution was
formed by mixing 10.5 cm3 of 0.800 mol dm−3 dilute sodium hydroxide with
25.0 cm3 of 0.920 mol dm−3 HX(aq).
Calculate the pH of the solution formed, showing all your working.
Moles of NaOH = 0.0084 mol (5)

Because some X- has been formed in the initial reaction between the HX
and NaOH, we cannot say that Ka = [H+]2
[HX]
So, the X- formed during the initial neutralisation reaction is equal to
moles of NaOH that was present:
HX + NaOH  Na+ + X- + H2O
So, moles of X- = 0.0084 mol
A weak acid, HX, has a Ka value of 5.25 × 10−5 mol dm−3. A solution was
formed by mixing 10.5 cm3 of 0.800 mol dm−3 dilute sodium hydroxide with
25.0 cm3 of 0.920 mol dm−3 HX(aq).
Calculate the pH of the solution formed, showing all your working.
mol HX = 0.0146 mol (5)
mol X- = 0.0084 mol
We now need to calculate them as concentrations, using the total volume:
Conc. HX = 0.0146 / 0.0355 = 0.411 mol dm-3
Conc. X- = 0.0084 / 0.0355 = 0.237 mol dm-3
A weak acid, HX, has a Ka value of 5.25 × 10−5 mol dm−3. A solution was
formed by mixing 10.5 cm3 of 0.800 mol dm−3 dilute sodium hydroxide with
25.0 cm3 of 0.920 mol dm−3 HX(aq).
Calculate the pH of the solution formed, showing all your working.
Conc. HX = 0.411 mol dm -3 (5)
Conc. X- = 0.237 mol dm-3

Since HX is a weak acid, we can assume no dissociation as per usual, but

we cannot assume [H+]= [X-] because there was already X- present.

Ka = [H+] [X-] [H+] = Ka x [HX] [H+] = 5.25 × 10−5 x 0.411

[HX] [X-] 0.237
= 9.1044x10-5 mol dm-3
A weak acid, HX, has a Ka value of 5.25 × 10−5 mol dm−3. A solution was
formed by mixing 10.5 cm3 of 0.800 mol dm−3 dilute sodium hydroxide with
25.0 cm3 of 0.920 mol dm−3 HX(aq).
Calculate the pH of the solution formed, showing all your working.
(5)
[H+] = 9.1044x10-5 mol dm-3

pH = -log[H+]

pH = -log 9.1044x10-5 = 4.40