module 5 - acids, bases and buffers Flashcards
bronsted-lowry acid
a proton donor
bronsted-lowry base
a proton acceptor
strong and weak acids
fully v partially dissociate
-strong acids exist manly as ions and weak acids mainly as molecules
conjugate-acid base pairs
- contains two species that can be interconverted by transfer of a proton
- they differ by H+
hydronium ion
- dissociation doesn’t take place unless water is present
- HCl + H2O –> H3O+ + Cl-
- the hydronium ion is a conjugate acid
monobasic, dibasic…
refers to the total number of hydrogen ions that can be replaced per molecule in an acid-base reaction
redox equation for acid and a metal
2H+ + Zn –> Zn2+ + H2
ionic equation for acids and carbonates
2H+ + CO3-2 –> H2O + CO2
ionic equation for acid and metal oxides
2H+ + MgO –> Mg2+ + H2O
PH of strong acids
[H+] = [HA]
-therefore can be calculated directly
Ph of diluted strong acids
- find the PH before and after dilution
- look at change in PH
the acid dissociation constant (Ka)
Ka = [H+] [A-] / [HA]
- units: moldm-3
- changes with temperature
- the larger the Ka value, the further the equilibrium is to the right, the stronger the acid
relationship between pKa and Ka
pKa = -log(Ka)
Ka = 10 -pKa
-pKa values are more manageable than Ka values, making it easier to compare acid strengths
rules about Ka and pKa
- the stronger the acid, the larger the Ka value and the smaller the pKa value
- the weaker the acid, the smaller the Ka value and the larger the pKa value
approximations for PH of weak acids
- HA dissociates to produce equal equilibrium concentrations of H+ and A-. The dissociation of water is negligible
- [HA eqm] = [HA start] as the dissociation of weak acids is small
when do these approximations break down?
- if there is a very dilute solution (PH > 6)
- if you have a stronger weak acid as H+is too big to be considered negligible
- therefore it is true for weak acids with small Ka values
Kw
the ionic product of water (the ions in water multiplied together)
- it varies with temperature
- it has a value of 1x10-14 at 25 degrees
prove water has a PH of 7
- On dissociation, water is neutral, it produces the same number of OH- and H+ ions
- Kw = [H+][OH-]
- [H+] = square root of 1x10-14 = 1x10-7
- PH = -log[H+] = 7
strong bases
- they fully dissociate so the [OH-] = [NaOH]
- rearrange Kw = [H+][OH-]
example of weak base
- a weak base is also an alkali
- ammonia gas is an example of a weak base
- an equilibrium is set up positioned well the left.
buffer solution
a system that minimises PH changes when small amounts of an acid or base are added
-they contain a weak acid to remove added alkali and a conjugate base to remove added acids
preparing a buffer from a weak acid and its salt
- mix a weak acid with a solution of one of its alts
- when added to water, ethanoic acid partially dissociates, producing a small amount of ethanoate ions. This is the buffers solution source of weak acid.
- salts are a source of conjugate base. when added to water, it completely dissociates
- we need to add the salt as the weak acid only partially dissociates so there isn’t much conjugate base
- this creates large reservoirs of weak acid and conjugate base
preparation by partial neutralisation
-the weak acid is partially neutralised by the alkali forming the conjugate base
some of the weak acid is left over which remain unreacted
how does a buffer neutralise PH change when acid is added?
- on addition of an acid [H+] increases
- H+ ion react with the conjugate base A-
- the equilibrium position shifts to the left, removing most of the H+ ions and resulting in minimal PH change