<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

It is important to realize that the autoionization equilibrium for water is established in all aqueous solutions. Adding an acid or base to water will not change the position of the equilibrium. [link] demonstrates the quantitative aspects of this relation between hydronium and hydroxide ion concentrations.

The inverse proportionality of [h 3 O + ] and [oh ]

A solution of carbon dioxide in water has a hydronium ion concentration of 2.0 × 10 −6 M . What is the concentration of hydroxide ion at 25 °C?

Solution

We know the value of the ion-product constant for water at 25 °C:

2 H 2 O ( l ) H 3 O + ( a q ) + OH ( a q ) K w = [ H 3 O + ] [ OH ] = 1.0 × 10 −14

Thus, we can calculate the missing equilibrium concentration.

Rearrangement of the K w expression yields that [OH ] is directly proportional to the inverse of [H 3 O + ]:

[ OH ] = K w [ H 3 O + ] = 1.0 × 10 −14 2.0 × 10 −6 = 5.0 × 10 −9

The hydroxide ion concentration in water is reduced to 5.0 × 10 −9 M as the hydrogen ion concentration increases to 2.0 × 10 −6 M . This is expected from Le Châtelier’s principle; the autoionization reaction shifts to the left to reduce the stress of the increased hydronium ion concentration and the [OH ] is reduced relative to that in pure water.

A check of these concentrations confirms that our arithmetic is correct:

K w = [ H 3 O + ] [ OH ] = ( 2.0 × 10 −6 ) ( 5.0 × 10 −9 ) = 1.0 × 10 −14

Check your learning

What is the hydronium ion concentration in an aqueous solution with a hydroxide ion concentration of 0.001 M at 25 °C?

Answer:

[H 3 O + ] = 1 × 10 −11 M

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Amphiprotic species

Like water, many molecules and ions may either gain or lose a proton under the appropriate conditions. Such species are said to be amphiprotic    . Another term used to describe such species is amphoteric    , which is a more general term for a species that may act either as an acid or a base by any definition (not just the Brønsted-Lowry one). Consider for example the bicarbonate ion, which may either donate or accept a proton as shown here:

HCO 3 ( a q ) + H 2 O( l ) CO 3 2− ( a q ) + H 3 O + ( a q ) HCO 3 ( a q ) + H 2 O( l ) H 2 CO 3 ( a q ) + OH ( a q )

Representing the acid-base behavior of an amphoteric substance

Write separate equations representing the reaction of HSO 3

(a) as an acid with OH

(b) as a base with HI

Solution

(a) HSO 3 ( a q ) + OH ( a q ) SO 3 2− ( a q ) + H 2 O ( l )

(b) HSO 3 ( a q ) + HI ( a q ) H 2 SO 3 ( a q ) + I ( a q )

Check your learning

Write separate equations representing the reaction of H 2 PO 4

(a) as a base with HBr

(b) as an acid with OH

Answer:

(a) H 2 PO 4 ( a q ) + HBr ( a q ) H 3 PO 4 ( a q ) + Br ( a q ) ; (b) H 2 PO 4 ( a q ) + OH ( a q ) HPO 4 2− ( a q ) + H 2 O ( l )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Key concepts and summary

A compound that can donate a proton (a hydrogen ion) to another compound is called a Brønsted-Lowry acid. The compound that accepts the proton is called a Brønsted-Lowry base. The species remaining after a Brønsted-Lowry acid has lost a proton is the conjugate base of the acid. The species formed when a Brønsted-Lowry base gains a proton is the conjugate acid of the base. Thus, an acid-base reaction occurs when a proton is transferred from an acid to a base, with formation of the conjugate base of the reactant acid and formation of the conjugate acid of the reactant base. Amphiprotic species can act as both proton donors and proton acceptors. Water is the most important amphiprotic species. It can form both the hydronium ion, H 3 O + , and the hydroxide ion, OH when it undergoes autoionization:

Questions & Answers

Discuss the differences between taste and flavor, including how other sensory inputs contribute to our  perception of flavor.
John Reply
taste refers to your understanding of the flavor . while flavor one The other hand is refers to sort of just a blend things.
Faith
While taste primarily relies on our taste buds, flavor involves a complex interplay between taste and aroma
Kamara
which drugs can we use for ulcers
Ummi Reply
omeprazole
Kamara
what
Renee
what is this
Renee
is a drug
Kamara
of anti-ulcer
Kamara
Omeprazole Cimetidine / Tagament For the complicated once ulcer - kit
Patrick
what is the function of lymphatic system
Nency Reply
Not really sure
Eli
to drain extracellular fluid all over the body.
asegid
The lymphatic system plays several crucial roles in the human body, functioning as a key component of the immune system and contributing to the maintenance of fluid balance. Its main functions include: 1. Immune Response: The lymphatic system produces and transports lymphocytes, which are a type of
asegid
to transport fluids fats proteins and lymphocytes to the blood stream as lymph
Adama
what is anatomy
Oyindarmola Reply
Anatomy is the identification and description of the structures of living things
Kamara
what's the difference between anatomy and physiology
Oyerinde Reply
Anatomy is the study of the structure of the body, while physiology is the study of the function of the body. Anatomy looks at the body's organs and systems, while physiology looks at how those organs and systems work together to keep the body functioning.
AI-Robot
what is enzymes all about?
Mohammed Reply
Enzymes are proteins that help speed up chemical reactions in our bodies. Enzymes are essential for digestion, liver function and much more. Too much or too little of a certain enzyme can cause health problems
Kamara
yes
Prince
how does the stomach protect itself from the damaging effects of HCl
Wulku Reply
little girl okay how does the stomach protect itself from the damaging effect of HCL
Wulku
it is because of the enzyme that the stomach produce that help the stomach from the damaging effect of HCL
Kamara
function of digestive system
Ali Reply
function of digestive
Ali
the diagram of the lungs
Adaeze Reply
what is the normal body temperature
Diya Reply
37 degrees selcius
Xolo
37°c
Stephanie
please why 37 degree selcius normal temperature
Mark
36.5
Simon
37°c
Iyogho
the normal temperature is 37°c or 98.6 °Fahrenheit is important for maintaining the homeostasis in the body the body regular this temperature through the process called thermoregulation which involves brain skin muscle and other organ working together to maintain stable internal temperature
Stephanie
37A c
Wulku
what is anaemia
Diya Reply
anaemia is the decrease in RBC count hemoglobin count and PVC count
Eniola
what is the pH of the vagina
Diya Reply
how does Lysin attack pathogens
Diya
acid
Mary
I information on anatomy position and digestive system and there enzyme
Elisha Reply
anatomy of the female external genitalia
Muhammad Reply
Organ Systems Of The Human Body (Continued) Organ Systems Of The Human Body (Continued)
Theophilus Reply
what's lochia albra
Kizito
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Chemistry. OpenStax CNX. May 20, 2015 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11760/1.9
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Chemistry' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask