ACID – BASE EQUILIBRIA FOR PREMED II

Chemistry of life… Add excess amount of

happiness to your life and shake it well. Let
it settle for some moments. Later, you will
observe all the sorrows precipitating at
the bottom of your life and colourful fumes
of success evolving from it.
Ibrahim Suba Kamara
BSc (Hons) Chemistry
MSc Analytical Chemistry
 Theories of Acids and Bases
Arrhenius Theory of Acids– An acid is any substance that ionizes
(partially or completely) in water to give hydrogen ions (which associate
with the solvent to give hydroxonium ions, H 3O+)

HA + H2O H3O+ + A-
A base ionizes in water to give hydroxyl ions. Weak (partially ionized)
bases generally ionize as follows:
B + H2O BH+ + OH-
Strong bases such as metal hydroxides (eg. NaOH, KOH) dissociate as:

The Arrhenius theory is strictly restricted to water as solvent.

Bronstead – Lowry Theory
States that an acid is any substance that can donate a proton and
a base is any substance that can accept a proton. It is known as
the protonic theory of and acid-base reactions.
A H+ + Base
HCl(g) + NH3(g)NH4+(s)+ Cl-(s)
The acid and base of a half-reaction are called conjugate pairs.
Free protons do not exist in solution and there must be a proton
acceptor (base) before a proton donor (acid) will release its proton.
That is, there must be a combination of two half-reactions.
Eg. HCl + H2O H3O+ + Cl-
It is apparent from the above definition that a substance cannot
act as an acid unless a base is present to accept the protons.
Consider the equation: HCl + H2O H3O+ + Cl-
In the forward reaction, HCl and act as acid and base,
respectively. In the reverse reaction, H3O+ and Cl- acts as the acid,
or proton donor, and Cl- acts as the base, or proton acceptor.
When the strong acid, HCl, dissolves in water, the HCl molecules
give up ions that can be accepted by either of two bases, Cl- and
H2O. The fact that HCl is completely ionized in dilute aqueous
solution tells us that Cl-
is a weaker base than H2O.
When the weak acid, HF, dissolves in water, the HF molecules give
up some ions that can be accepted by either of two bases, or .
The fact that HF is only slightly ionized tells us that is a stronger
base than .
Thus, the weaker acid, HF, has the stronger conjugate base . The
stronger acid, HCl, has the weaker conjugate base, Cl.
We can generalize that:
 The stronger the acid, the weaker is its conjugate base; the
weaker the acid, the stronger is its conjugate base.
Lewis Definition of an Acid
Introduced the electronic theory of acids and bases. In the Lewis
theory, an acid is a substance that can accept an electron pair and
a base is a substance that can donate an electron pair.
Examples of acid-base reactions in the Lewis theory are as follows:
H+(solvated) + :NH3 H:NH3
AlCl3 + :OR2 Cl3Al:OR2
H2O: + H+H2O:H+
H+ + :OH H:OH
F3B + :: BF4
 Acid – Base Equilibria in water
When an acid or base is dissolved in water, it will dissociate or
ionize. The amount of ionization being dependent on the strength
of the acid. A strong acid or base is completely dissociated, while a
weak acid electrolyte is partially dissociated.
Example of strong acid and some weak acids
HCl H+ + Cl-
NaOH ↔ Na+ + OH-
HCl03 H+ + ClO4-
 KOH K+ + OH-
H2SO4 2H+ + SO42-
NaC2H3O2Na+ + C2H3O2-
HNO3 H+ + NO3-
Weak acids weak bases
HC2H3O2 (acetic acid) (Ammonia)
HCHO2(formic acid) (Aniline)
Consider the autoprotolysis of water
2H2O H3O+ + OH-
Equilibrium constant
 The equilibrium constant expression kc becomes kc.k = kw
Therefore, kw = [H+][OH-]
kw is an equilibrium constant given the name ionic product of
water. The subscript stands for water.
kw has the value of 1.0 x 10-14 mol2dm-6 at 298K.
An aqueous solution can be acidic, basic or neutral. A solution is
described as neutral when the hydrogen ion concentration is equal
to the hydroxide ion concentration.
That is, [H+] = [OH-]
[H+][OH-] = 1.0 x 10-14 mol2dm-6
If [H+] = [OH-] then
 [H+]2 = 1 x 10-14 mol2dm-6
[H+] = 1 x 10-7 moldm-3
Example 1: A 1.0 x 10-3M solution of hydrochloric acid is prepared.
What is the hydroxyl ion concentration?
Soln:
Since hydrochloric acid is a strong acid and is completely ionized,
then H+ concentration is 1.0 x 10-3 M
Thus:
[1.0 x 10-3][OH-]= 1.0 x 10-14
[OH-] = 1.0 x 10-11
2. calculate the hydroxyl ion concentration of the following solutions:
a) 2.6 x 10-5M HCl b) 0.20 M HNO3 c) 2.7 x 10-9M HClO4
d) 1.9 M HClO4
pH Scale
pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion
concentration.
pH = -log [H+]
= log
pOH is defined as the negative of the logarithm of the hydroxide ion
concentration.
pOH = - log[OH-]
The lower the pH or pOH the higher the hydrogen ion or hydroxide
ion concentration
pKw = -log Kw= 14
Calculate the pH of a 2.0 x 10-3 M solution HCl.
HCl is completely ionized, so [H+] = 2.0 x 10-3 M.
pH = -log (2 x 10-3)
= 3 – log 2.0
= 3 – 0.3010
= 2.70
pOH can be calculated from the answer above
 pOH = -log[OH-]
Using the equation
-log Kw= -log [H+][OH-]
= -log [H+] x -log [OH-]
pKw = pH + pOH at 25°C
14 = pH + pOH
14 = 2.70 + pOH
pOH = 14 – 2.70
pOH = 11.3
Calculate the pOH and the pH of a 5.0 x 10-2 M solution of NaOH.
Solution
[OH-] = 5.0 x 10-2M. Since NaOH is a strong electrolyte,
pOH = -log (5.0 x 10-2)
= 2 – log 5.0
= 2 – 0.70
= 1.30
pH + 1.30 = 14.0
pH = 14 – 1.30
= 12.70
 Or [H+] =
pH = -log (2.0 x 10-13)
= 13 – log 2.0
= 13 – 0.3010
= 12.70
Calculate the pH of a solution prepared by mixing 2.0 mL of a
strong acid solution of pH 3.00 and 3.0 mL of a strong base of pH
10.00
Solution
[H+] of acid solution = 1.0 x 10-3M x 2.0 mL
mmol H+ = 1.0 x 10-3M x 2.0 mL
 = 2.0 x 10-3mmol
pOH of base solution = 14.00 – 10.00
= 4.00
[OH-] = 1.0 x 10-4M
mmol OH-= 1.0 x 10-4M x 3.0mL
= 3.0 x 10-4mmol
There is an excess of acid
mmol H+ = 0.0020 – 0.0003
= 0.0017 mmol
[H+] =
 = 3.4 x 10-4 M
pH = -log 3.4 x 10-4
= 4 – 0.53
= 3.47
The pH of a solution is 9.67. calculate the hydrogen ion
concentration in the solution
-log [H+] = 9.67
[H+] = 10-9.67
[H+] = 10-10 x 100.33
[H+] = 2.1 x 10-10M
Calculate the pOH of a 1.0 x 10-7M solution of HCl
HCl H+ + Cl-
H2O H+ + OH-
[H+][OH-] = 1.0 x 10-14
[H+]waterdiss=[OH-]water diss= x
Since hydrogen ions contributed from the ionization of water are
not negligible compared to the HCl added.
[H+] = CHCl+ [H+]water diss

HCl + x) (x) = 1.0 x 10-14

Since the hydrogen ions contributed from the ionization of water

 [H+] = CHCl+ [H+]water diss

HCl + x) (x) = 1.0 x 10-14

(1.0 x + x)(x) = 1.0 x

+ 1.0 x – 1.0 x = 0
using the quadratic equation to solve for the value of X
X=
a = 1; b = 1.0 x 10-7; c = -1.0 x 10-14
X=
 X=
X = 6.2 x 10-8
Therefore, the total H+ concentration =
1.0 x 10-7 + 6.2 x 10-8)
= 1.62 x 10-7
= 7 - 0.21
= 6.79
pOH = 14.00 – 6.79
= 7.21
 or since [OH-] = X
pOH = -log(6.2 x 10-8)
= 8 - 0.79
= 7.21
Calculate the pH of aqueous solutions of
1. 0.000006 hydrogen ions
2. 2.52 x 10-12 M hydrogen ion
3. 0.01 mol dm-3 of hydrochloric acid
Indicate whether each solution is acidic or basic
Calculate the pOH of the aqueous solution of 0.0001 M sodium
hydroxide.
The pH of a solution is 10.5, calculate
• The pH
• The hydrogen ion concentration
pH + pOH = 14
pOH = 14 – pH
pH = 10.5
pOH = 14 – 10.5
= 3.5
pH = 10.5
pH = -log[H+]
 therefore, -log[H+] = 10.5

log[H+] = -10.5
antilog [H+] = antilog (-10.5)
= 10-10.5
= 10-10 x 10-0.5
1 x 10-10 x 0.316
1 x 10-10 x 3.16 x 10-1
3.16 x 10-11M
 Ka and pKa
Strong acids and bases dissociate or ionize completely or almost
completely in their aqueous solutions. They are strong
electrolytes. Weak acids are weak electrolytes and dissociate to a
very small extent to produce few hydrogen ions.
Most of the particles of the weak acid exist as the undissociated
molecules.
CH3COOH (aq) ↔CH3COO-(aq) + H+(aq)
Ka = = mol dm-3 at 298K
The equilibrium constant Ka of a weak acid is called the acid dissociation
constant or acid ionization constant.
Ka is directly proportional to the strength of the acid or its acidity.
An acid with a higher Ka value is a stronger acid than an acid with a
lower value of Ka
An acid with a higher value of Ka dissociates more than the acid with a
lower value of Ka
Ethanoic acid, CH3COOH, with Ka = 1.7 x 10-5 mol dm-3 is a weak acid
and dissociates less than methanoic acid, HCOOH with
Ka = 1.6 x 10-4 mol dm-3
Under certain conditions 0.01 M ethanoic acid has
-5 -3
Calculate:
a) [H+] and b) Its pH
Solution:
CH3COOH ↔ H+ + CH3COO-
Initially 0.01 M 0 0
Equilibrium 0.01 M - [H+] [H+] [H+]
Since the acid dissociates to form equal moles of H + and CH3COO-,
the equilibrium concentration of the acid is the initial concentration
minus concentration which has dissociated.
= =
The acid is a weak acid, therefore the [H+] is negligible compared
with [CH3COOH] at equilibrium.
Therefore, [CH3COOH] - [H+] ≡ [CH3COOH] = 0.01 M
Ka = =

pH = -log
= -log 4.24 x 10-4
= 4 – log 4.24
 = 4 – 0.6274
= 3.37
For a 1M solution of ammonia, calculate: i) pKb ii) the hydrogen ion
concentration
iii) calculate the mass of ammonia, NH3 that would be used to prepare
1 dm3 solution of pH 10
i) Kb (NH3) = 1.74 x 10-5 mol dm-3
[N = 14; H = 1]
Solution:
Kb = 1.74 x 10-5 mol dm-3
pKb = - log Kb
 = 5 – log 1.74
= 5 – 0.2405
= 4.76
NH3 + H2O ↔ NH4+ + OH-

Kb = =
ii) N being a weak acid dissociates slightly, hence
= 1.0 M
Therefore Kb = = 1.74 x 10-5
NH3 + H2O ↔ NH4+ + OH-
pH = 10
pH + pOH = 14
10 + pOH = 14
pOH = 14 – 10
pOH = 4
pOH = - log [OH-]
4 = - log [OH-]
[OH-] = antilog pOH
[OH-] = 10-4 mol dm-3
Kb =

Kb =
=
 BUFFERS
Buffers
Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
Describe the composition and function of acid-base
buffers
Calculate the pH of a buffer before and after the
addition of added acid or base
Understand buffering capacity
 Definition
A buffer solution is one which resists changes in pH when small
quantities of an acid or an alkali are added to it or when the solution
is diluted.
Acidic buffer solutions
An acidic buffer solution is simply one which has a pH less than 7.
Acidic buffer solutions are commonly made from a weak acid and
one of its salts - often a sodium salt.
A common example would be a mixture of ethanoic acid and sodium
ethanoate in solution [CH3CO2H + CH3CO2Na]. In this case, if the
solution contained equal molar concentrations of both the acid and
the salt, it would have a pH of 4.76. It wouldn't matter what the
You can change the pH of the buffer solution by changing the ratio of
acid to salt, or by choosing a different acid and one of its salts.
Alkaline buffer solutions
An alkaline buffer solution has a pH greater than 7. Alkaline buffer
solutions are commonly made from a weak base and one of its salts.
A frequently used example is a mixture of ammonia solution
and ammonium chloride solution. If these were mixed in equal
molar proportions, the solution would have a pH of 9.25. Again,
it doesn't matter what concentrations you choose as long as
they are the same.
A solution of ammonia and ammonium chloride [NH3(aq) +
NH4Cl(aq)] is an example of a weak base and its salt.
 How Buffers Work

A mixture of acetic acid and sodium acetate is acidic because the

Ka of acetic acid is greater than the Kb of its conjugate base
acetate. It is a buffer because it contains both the weak acid and
its salt. Therefore it acts to keep the hydronium ion concentration
(and the pH) almost constant by the addition of a small amount of
a strong acid or a strong base. If we add a base such as Sodium
hydroxide, the hydroxide ions react with the few hydronium ions
present. Then more of the acetic acid reacts with water, restoring
the hydronium ion concentration to its original value.

The pH changes very little. If we add an acid such as hydrochloric

acid, most of the hydronium ions from the hydrochloric acid
But there is a very little increase in the concentration of the
hydrogen ion and the pH remains practically the same.
Adding an alkaline to this buffer solution
Alkali solutions contain the hydroxyl ions and the buffer solution
removes most of these. This happen in two ways:
Reaction with Ethanoic acid:
The acid and the hydroxyl ions will react to form the ethanoate
ions and water:
Since most of the hydroxyl ions are removed, the pH of the
solution remains almost the same.
Reaction with hydrogen ions:
The acid dissociates slightly to form the hydrogen ions

The hydrogen ions from the acid reacts with the hydroxyl ion from
the base to form water.
A mixture of ammonia and ammonium chloride is basic because
the . It is a buffer because it also contains the salt of a weak base.
If we add a base (hydroxyl ions), ammonia ions in the buffer reacts
with the hydroxyl ions to form ammonia and water and reduce the
hydroxide ions concentration almost to its original value.
If we add an acid, the ammonia molecules in the buffer mixture
reacts with the hydrogen ions to form ammonium ions and reduce
the hydrogen ions to almost its original value.

Buffer solutions calculations

Consider an acetic acid-acetate buffer solution. The acid
equilibrium that governs this system is:

Since we have added a supply of acetate ion to the system (eg.

From sodium acetate), the hydrogen ion concentration is no longer
equal to the acetate ion concentration. The hydrogen ion
concentration is:
Taking natural logs on each side of the equation gives

pH = pKa + log
This form of ionization constant equation is called the
Henderson-Hesselbalch equation.
It is useful for calculating the pH of a weak acid solution containing
its salt. A general form can be written for a weak acid HA that
ionizes to its salt,

pH = pKa + log
pH = pKa + log
pH = pKa + log
Similar calculations apply for mixtures of a weak base and its salt.
We can consider the equilibrium between the base B and its
conjugate acid
And write the Ka for the conjugate (Bronstead) acid:
 The logarithmic Henderson-Hesselbalch equation form is derived
exactly as above:

Taking natural logs gives:

pH = pKa + log
Since pOH = pKw – pH, we can write by substituting either
equation xii or equation xiii
pOH = p +

1. Calculate the pH of a buffer prepared by adding 10 mL of 0.10

M acetic acid to 20 mL of 0.10 M sodium acetate.
Solution
We need to calculate the concentration of the acid and salt in
solution. The final volume is 30 mL
 M1 x mL1 = M2 x mL2

For HOAc,

0.10 mmol/mL x 10 mL = MHOAc x 30 mL

MHOAc = 0.033 mmol/mL

For OAc-,

0.10 mmol/mL x 20 mL = MOAC- x 30 mL

MOAC- = 0.067 mmol/mL

2. Calculate the volume of concentrated ammonia and the weight of

ammonium chloride, you would have to prepare 100 mL of a buffer
at pH 10.00 if the final concentration of salt is to be 0.200 M.
 [H = 1; Cl = 35.5; N = 14; pkb = 4.76]

Solution

We want 100 mL of 0.200 M NH4Cl.

Therefore mmol NH4Cl = 0.20 mmol/mL x 100 mL = 20 mmol

Mg of NH4Cl = 20 mmol x 53.5 mg/mol = 1.07g NH4Cl

Therefore, we need 1.07g NH4Cl.

We can calculate the concentration of ammonia by using
pH = pKa + log
Since molarity of concentrated ammonia is 14.8, therefore, volume
will be
100 mL x 1.16 mmol/L = 14.8 mmol/L x mL
= 7.8 mL
How many grams of ammonium chloride and how many milliliters
3.0 M sodium hydroxide should be added to 200 mL water and
diluted to 500 mL to prepare a buffer of pH 9.50 with a salt
concentration of 0.10 M.

9.50
= 1.8
Final concentration of ammonium ion is 0.10 M
Therefore,
= 0.18 M
 mmol of in final solution = 0.10 M x 500 mL = 50 mmol
mmol of in final solution = 0.18 x 500 mL = 90 mmol
The ammonia is formed from an equal number of mmol of Cl
Therefore, a total number of 50+90 = 140 mmol of Cl must be
taken
Mg of Cl = 140 mmol x 53.5 mg/mol
= 7.49 x mg
= 7.49 g
The millimoles of NaOH needed are equal to the millimoles of :
3.0 M X mL = 90mmol
X = 30 mL NaOH
Calculate the pH of a 0.1000 M .
Ka for = 1.1 x
→
(0.100 – x) X X
1.1 x =

X = 0.028 M
pH = -log 0.028
= 1.55
 Physiological Buffers - They keep you Alive
The pH of the blood in a healthy individual remains remarkably constant
at 7.35 to 7.45. this is because the blood contains a number of buffers
that protect against pH change due to the presence of acidic or basic
metabolites. From a physiological point of view, a change of ± 0.3 pH
units is extreme. Acid metabolites are ordinarily produced in greater
quantities than basic metabolites, and carbon dioxide is the principal
one. The buffering capacity of the blood for handling CO2 is estimated to
be distributed among various buffer systems as follows: hemoglobin
and oxyhamoglobin, 62%; H2PO4-/H2PO42-,22%; plasma protein, 11%;
bicarbonate, 5%. Proteins contain carboxylic and amino groups which
are weak acids and bases respectively. They are, therefore, effective
buffering agents. The combined buffering capacity of blood to neutralize
acids is designated by clinicians as the ‘’alkali reserve.’’ Certain
diseases cause disturbances in the acid balance of the body.
For example diabetes may give rise to “acidosis” which is fatal.
An important diagnostic analysis is the balance in the blood. The
ratio is related to the pH of the blood by the Henderson-
Hasselbalch equation:
pH = 6.10 +
Where can be considered equal to the concentration of dissolved
in the blood; 6.10 is p of carbonic acid in blood at body
temperature (37°C). Normally, the bicarbonate concentration in
the blood is about 26.0 mmol/L, while the concentration of is 1.3
mmol/L.
Accordingly, for blood:
pH = 6.10 + log = 7.40
The total carbon dioxide content ( in blood sample is determined
by acidifying the sample and measuring the volume of evolved
with a Van Slyke manometric apparatus. The total concentration
was determined to be 28.5 mmol/L. The blood pH at 37°C was
determined to be 7.48. what are the concentrations of in the
blood?
Solution
pH = 6.10 + log
7.48 = 6.10 + log
1.38 = log
 [] = 24[]
[] + [] = 28.5 mmol/L
24[] + [] = 28.5 mmol/L
[] =
[] = 1.14 mmol/L
[] = 24[]
[] = 24(1.14 mmol/L)
[] = 27.4 mmol/L
 Buffers for Biological and Clinical Measurements
Many biological reactions of interest occur in the pH range of 6 to
8. A number, particularly specific enzyme reactions that might be
used for analysis may occur in the pH range of 4 to 10 or even
greater. The proper selection of buffers for the study of biological
reactions or for use in clinical analysis can be critical in
determining whether or not they influence the reaction. A buffer
must have the correct pKa, near physiological pH so the ratio of in
the Henderson-Hasselbach equation is not too far from Unity, and
it must be physiologically compatible.
 Phosphate Buffers –
One useful series of buffers are phosphate buffers. Bilogical
systems usually contain some phosphate already, and phosphate
buffers will not interfere in many cases. By choosing appropriate
mixtures of H3PO4/H2PO4- , H2PO4-/HPO42-, or HPO42-/PO43- , solutions
over a wide pH range can be prepared. Ionic strength is a mesure
of the total salt content of a solution, and it frequently influences
reactions, particularly in kinetic studies. Hence phosphate buffers
could be used in cases where the ionic strength must be constant.
 What weights of Na would be required to p(repare 1L of a buffer
solution of pH 7.45 that has an ionic strength of 0.100?
Solution
Let = [] and y = [Na]. There are two unknowns, and two equations
are needed. ( Remember there must be the same number of
equations as un unknowns to solve). Our first equation is the ionic
strength equation:

0.100 =
0.100 =
 0.100 = ……………. (i)
Our second equation is the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:
pH =
7.45 = 7.12 +
=
= 2.14
…………….(ii)
Substitute equation (ii) into (i)
 0.100 = 3(2.14y) + y
y = 0.0135M
This is the molar concentration of Na
Substitute this value into equation (ii)
= (2.14)(0.0135)
= 0.0289M – molar concentration of
g of Na = 0.0135 mol/L x 120 g/mol = 1.62 g/L
g = 0.0289 mol/L x 142 g/mol = 4.1 g/L
 Tris Buffers
A buffer that is widely used in the clinical laboratory and in
biochemical studies in the physiological pH range is that prepared
from tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane [(HOCH2)3CNH2-Tris, or
THAM]
and its conjugate acid (the amino group is protonated).
It is a primary standard and has good stability, has high solubility in
physiological fluids, is non-hygroscopic, does not absorb CO2
appreciably, does not precipitate calcium salts, does not appear to
inhibit many enzyme systems, and is compatible with biological
fluids. It has pK close to physiological pH (pKa = 8.08 for the
conjugate acid), but its buffering capacity below pH 7.5 does begin
Other disadvantages are that the primary aliphatic amine has
considerable potential reactivity and it is reactive with linen fibre
junctions.
These buffers are usually prepared by adding an acid such as
hydrochloric acid to a solution of Tris to adjust the pH to the
desired value.
 ACID – BASE TITRATIONS
Strong Acid versus Strong Base:
An acid-base titration involves a neutralization reaction in which
an acid is reacted with an equivalent amount of base. By
constructing a titration curve, we can easily explain how the end
points of these titrations can be detected; the end points signals
the completion of the reaction. A titration curve is constructed by
plotting the pH of the solution as a function of the volume of the
titrant added. The titrant is always a strong acid or strong base.
The analyte may be either a strong base or acid or a weak base or
acid.
Calculate the pH at 0, 10, 90, 100, and 110% titration for the
titration of 50.0 mL of 0.100 M HCl with 0.100 M NaOH.
Solution
At 0% pH = -log 0.100 = 1.00
 At 10%, 5.0 mL NaOH is added.
We start with 0.100 M x 50.0 mL = 5.00 mmol .
Calculate the concentration of after adding the NaOH:
Mole of at start = 5.000 mmol
mmol of added = 0.100 M x 5.0 mL = 0.500 mmol
mmol of left = 4.50 mmol in 55.0 mL

= 0.0818 M
pH = -log 0.0818
= 1.09
At 90%,
mmol at start = 5.00 mmol
mmol added = 0.100 M x 45.0 mL = 4.50 mmol
mmol left = 0.50 mmol in 95.0 mL
[] = 0.00526 M
pH = -log 0.00526 = 2.28
At 100%: All the has been reacted with , and we have a 0.0500 M
solution of NaCl. Therefore, pH is 7.00.
At 110%: we now have a solution consisting of NaCl and excess
added NaOH.
mmol = 0.100 M x 5.00 mL = 0.50 mmol in 105 mL
 = 0.00476 M
pOH = -log 0.00476 = 2.32; pH = 11.68
Detection of the End Point
 The point at which the reaction is observed to be complete.
 A measurement is chosen such that the end point coincides with
or is very close to the equivalence point.
 End point can be determined by measuring the pH at different
points of the titration and make a plot of pH vs milliliters of
titrant.
 It is usually more convenient to add an indicator to the solution
and visually detect a colour change. An indicator s a weak acid
Weak Acid vs Strong Base:

Calculate the pH at 0, 10.0, 25.0, 50.0, and 60.0 mL titrant in the

titration of 50.0 mL of 0.100 M acetic acid with 0.100 M NaOH
 Solution
At 0.0 mL, we have a solution of only 0.100 M HOAc

pH = 2.88
At 10.0 mL, we started with 0.100 M x 50.0 mL = 5.00 mmol HOAc;
part has reacted with and has been converted to :
mmol HOAc at start = 5.00 mmol HOAc
mmol added = 0.100 M x 10.0 mL = 1.00 mmol
mmol HOAc left = 4.00 mmol
HOAc in 60.0 mL
 pH = pKa + log
pH = 4.76 +log = 4.16
At 25.0 mL, one-half of the HOAc has been converted to ,
so pH = pKa;
mmol HOAc at start = 5.00 mmol HOAc
mmol = 2.50 mmol formed
mmol HOAc left = 2.50 mmol HOAc
pH = 4.76 + log = 4.76
At 50.0 mL, all the HOAc has been converted to (5.00 mmol in
100mL, or 0.0500 M)
=
= M
pOH = 5.27; therefore, pH = 14 – 5.27 = 8.73
At 60.0 mL, we have a solution of NaOAc and excess added NaOH.
The hydrolysis of the acetate is negligible in the presence of added
. So the pH is determined by the concentration of excess :
Mmol = 0.100 M x 10.0 mL = 1.00 mmol in 110 mL
= 0.00909 M
pOH = 2.04
= 11.96