Rules for Writing Acid-Base Reactions

Acids and bases react with each other

(both are reactants)
UNLESS they are conjugate acid/base pairs

Strong and weak acids or strong and weak

bases are in equilibrium with each other
H2O is a reactant with the weak,
the strong is a product

Conjugate acid base pairs are in equilibrium

with each other
H2O is a reactant with one, the other is a
product
Tips for Writing Acid-Base Reactions
If you see a strong acid, write it as H3O+
HCl, HBr, HI, HNO3, HClO4, H2SO4

If you see a strong base, write it as OH-

NaOH, KOH, LiOH, Ca(OH)2, Sr(OH)2, Ba(OH)2

If you see a compound that has the anion of a strong acid,

cross it out and adjust the charge

Cl-, Br-, I-, NO3-, ClO4- (NOTE: I left HSO4- out on purpose)

For example, NH4Cl  NH4+

If you see a compound that has the cation of a strong base,
cross it out and adjust the charge
Na+, K+, Li+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+
For example, NaCN  CN-
Anions/Cations of Strong and Weak
Acids/Bases

Anions TEND to form basic or neutral solutions

The anion of a strong acid is neutral
The anion of a weak acid is basic

Cations TEND to form acidic or neutral

solutions
The cation of a strong base is neutral
The cation of a weak base is acidic
Identify the following compounds as a strong or weak acid or base AND write
the reaction or equilibrium between the two compounds

NaOH and HCl H3CCOOH and LiOH

NH3 and H2SO4 HCN and HI

C6H5NH2 and KOH NH3 and NH4Cl

HOI and KOI

Consider a solution that is 0.10 M in H3CCOONa and 0.20 M in H3CCOOH
(Ka,H3CCOOH = 1.8x10-5). Determine the pH of the solution.
 Consider a solution that is 0.10 M in HBr and 0.10 M in H3CCOOH
(Ka,H3CCOOH = 1.8x10-5). Determine the pH of the solution. HINT: Begin by
assuming the strong acid completely dissociates!
Suppose you mix 20.0 mL 0.20 M NaOH with 40.0 mL of 0.20 M HCl. Calculate
the pH of the resulting solution.
Step 1: Identify your compounds
Step 2: Write the balanced chemical reaction
Step 3: React in MOLES NOT MOLARITY
Step 4: Convert to concentration
Step 5: Calculate pH
 Suppose you mix 25.0 mL 0.50 M Sr(OH)2 with 40.0 mL of 0.50 M HCl.
Calculate the pH of the resulting solution.
a) 12.89
b) 13.70
c) 11.70
d) 10.89
 Reactions we have covered:
• Strong acid + strong base
– React
– Limiting reagent  0
• Strong acid + weak base
– React
– Limiting reagent  0
• Strong base + weak acid
– React
– Limiting reagent  0
 Equilibria we have covered:
• Strong acid + weak acid
– Equilibrium
– Weak + H2O 
• Strong base + weak base
– Equilibrium
– Weak + H2O 
• Weak acid + weak base (conjugates)
– Equilibrium
– Either weak + H2O 
 Titration Basics:
We incrementally add a reagent
solution (titrant) to an analyte until
the reaction comes to completion

Monitor the pH of the solution using

a pH meter OR an indicator (a
substance with a color that
depends on pH)
 Strong Acid/Base Titrations

Remember that to do this calculation correctly you MUST

Perform the calculation in moles

Calculate concentration using new volume

 Calculate the volume of 0.50 M NaOH needed to reach the equivalence point
when titrating 50.0 mL 0.10 M HCl.

NOTE: At the equivalence point you have added EXACTLY enough titrant for
stoichiometric reaction with analyte
a) 50.0 mL
b) 25.0 mL
c) 250.0 mL
d) 10.0 mL
Strong Acid/Base Titrations
Weak Acid and Strong Base
Titrations
 At equilibrium, buffer
solutions contain as major
species a conjugate weak
acid/base pair

Buffers maintain the pH of a

solution within a narrow
range around pKa
 Significant illness occurs
if the pH of blood falls
outside of the range 7.35-
7.45

The cytoplasm of cells is

maintained at a pH of 7.2
Which of the following pairs could make a buffer solution?

H2CO3 and HCO3- HCl and Cl-

PO43- and HPO42- NH3 and NH4+

H2SO4 and HSO4-

H3CCOOH and H3CCOO-
When mixed in equal volumes, would the following mixtures form a buffer
solution?
0.10 M H3CCOOH and 0.10 M NaOOCCH3

0.05 M NaOH and 0.10 M HF

0.10 M HBr and 0.05 M NH3

 What change will be caused by the addition of a small amount of HCl to a
HF/NaF buffer?
a) [H3O+] will increase significantly.
b) [F–] and [H3O+] will both increase.
c) [HF] will decrease and [F–] will increase.
d) [F–] will decrease and [HF] will increase.
The Henderson-Hasselbach Equation
æ éA - ù ö
ë û0
pH =pKa +log 10 ç ÷
ç é ù
è ëHA û0 ÷
ø

This equation assumes that

A buffer solution is made by dissolving 0.125 mol sodium acetate (NaOOCCH3)
in 1.0 L of 0.250 M acetic acid (H3CCOOH). (Ka,H3CCOOH = 1.8 x 10-5)
What is the pH of the buffer solution?
What is the pH of the solution after adding 2.0 mmol NaOH?
 Use the Henderson-Hasselbach equation to calculate the pH of a buffer
solution that is 0.30 M NH3 and 0.40 M NH4Cl (pKb,NH3 = 4.75)
a) 9.12
b) 9.37
c) 4.62
d) 8.96
 Buffer Effectiveness
Buffer Range
The relative amounts of conjugate acid/base pair

Buffer Capacity
The absolute concentrations of acid base pair
 A 1.0 L buffer solution is 0.050 M H3CCOOH and 0.250 M NaOOCCH3.
Which of the following actions will destroy the buffer?
a) Adding 0.050 moles of NaOOCCH3
b) Adding 0.050 moles of H3CCOOH
c) Adding 0.050 moles of HCl
d) Adding 0.050 moles of NaOH
 One of the most common buffers in biochemistry and molecular biology
involves tris, which we will abbreviate TNH2. What volume of 0.100 M HCl must
you add to 100.0 mL of 0.0500 M TNH2 (pKa=8.07 for TNH3+) to have a buffer
solution with pH=7.80?
Strong Acid/Base Titrations
 Strong Acid/Base Titrations
Start of Titration Equivalence Point

OH- (titrant)
OH-
OH-

H3O+ H3O+ H2O H2O

H+
H3O+ H3O+ H2O H2O
pH=7
No more H3O+
or OH-
Weak Acid and Strong Start of Titration – A
Base Titrations OH-

D HA HA
HA HA
C

Half Equivalence Point – B

B OH-

A
HA A-
HA A-
pH=pKa
Weak Acid and Strong Start of Titration – A
Base Titrations OH-

D HA HA
HA HA
C

Equivalence Point – C
B OH-

A
A- A-
A- A-
pH>7
Weak Acid and Strong A – Start of the titration
Base Titrations

D B – Buffer Region

C – Equivalence Point

D – Excess Base
A
 Calculations

Identify compounds

Are they in
Can they react?
equilibrium?

Convert to moles Convert to

and react concentration

Is it a buffer?
YES NO

Use Henderson- Use appropriate

Hasselbach equilibrium constant
A 25.0 mL solution of 0.100 M hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is titrated with a 0.200
M NaOH solution. (Ka, HOCl = 4.0 x 10-8)
Calculate the pH after the following additions of the NaOH solution:
0.00 mL
6.25 mL
8.50 mL
12.50 mL
25.00 mL
A 25.0 mL solution of 0.100 M hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is titrated with a 0.200
M NaOH solution. (Ka, HOCl = 4.0 x 10-8)
Calculate the pH after the following additions of the NaOH solution:
0.00 mL
6.25 mL
8.50 mL
12.50 mL
25.00 mL
A 25.0 mL solution of 0.100 M hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is titrated with a 0.200
M NaOH solution. (Ka, HOCl = 4.0 x 10-8)
Calculate the pH after the following additions of the NaOH solution:
0.00 mL
6.25 mL
8.50 mL
12.50 mL
25.00 mL
A 25.0 mL solution of 0.100 M hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is titrated with a 0.200
M NaOH solution. (Ka, HOCl = 4.0 x 10-8)
Calculate the pH after the following additions of the NaOH solution:
0.00 mL
6.25 mL
8.50 mL
12.50 mL
25.00 mL
A 25.0 mL solution of 0.100 M hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is titrated with a 0.200
M NaOH solution. (Ka, HOCl = 4.0 x 10-8)
Calculate the pH after the following additions of the NaOH solution:
0.00 mL
6.25 mL
8.50 mL
12.50 mL
25.00 mL
 Which titration curve is reasonable for the titration of a weak base
with a strong acid?
a) b)

c) d)
 Suppose that you have 100.0 mL of a 0.25 M solution of NH3 (pKb = 4.74) that
is being titrated with 0.40 M HCl. Which of the following is the pH of the initial
NH3 solution?
a) 2.67
b) 11.32
c) 13.97
d) 10.83
 Suppose that you have 100.0 mL of a 0.25 M solution of NH3 (pKb = 4.74) that
is being titrated with 0.40 M HCl. Which of the following volumes is required to
reach the half-equivalence point?
a) 31.25 mL
b) 62.50 mL
c) 50.00 mL
d) 62.25 mL
Suppose that you have 100.0 mL of a 0.25 M solution of NH3 (pKb = 4.74) that
is being titrated with 0.40 M HCl. What volume of HCl is required to reach the
equivalence point? Which of the following is the correct pH at the equivalence
point?
What are the dominant species in solution at equilibrium for each of the
indicated points?
Point A

Point B
D
C
Point C

Point D
A

Point E