Acid-Base Study Guide

Acid = proton donorBase = proton acceptor

We write the formula of an acid with a H out front to help youidentify it as an acid. Strong bases will contain hydroxide ion(OH-) in the formula.

Remember that H+ and H3O+ are equivalent.

Strong Acids (= strong electrolytes)

Note: each reaction has water implied as a reactant, and theH+ is donated to it to form H3O+. For example, these twoequations are equivalent:

HNO3 H+ + NO3- and HNO3 + H2O H3O+ + NO3-

MEMORIZE THESE:

HNO3 Nitric Acid HNO3 H+ + NO3-H2SO4 Sulfuric Acid H2SO4 2H+ + SO42-HClO4 Perchloric Acid HClO4 H+ + ClO4-HCl Hydrochloric Acid HCl H+ + Cl-HBr Hydrobromic Acid HBr H+ + Br-HI Hydroiodic Acid HI H+ + I-

Strong Bases (= strong electrolytes)

MEMORIZE THESE:

Group IA hydroxides LiOH, NaOH, KOH, etc

LiOH Li+ + OH- NaOH Na+ + OH- KOH K+ + OH-

and from Group IIA Ba(OH)2

Ba(OH)2 Ba2+ + 2OH-

Weak Acids (= weak electrolytes)

If the acid is not one of the strong acids above, you cansafely assume its a weak acid.

Note: like the strong acid reactions given above, eachreaction has water as a reactant, and the H+ is donated to itto form H3O+.

EXAMPLES FROM NOMENCLATURE THAT YOU NEEDTO MEMORIZE-

HNO2 Nitrous Acid HNO2 W H+ + NO2-H2SO3 Sulfurous Acid H2SO3 W H+ + HSO3-

HSO3- W H+ + SO32-H2CO3 Carbonic Acid H2CO3 W H+ + HCO3-

HCO3- W H+ + CO32-H3PO4 Phosphoric Acid H3PO4 W H+ + H2PO4-

H2PO4- W H+ + HPO42-HPO42- W H+ + PO43-

HClO3, HClO2, HClO (and Br and I equivalents) Chloric,Chlorous, and hypochlorous acids

Weak Bases (= weak electrolytes)

Memorize NH3 only

NH3 + H2O W NH4+ + OH-

Amphiteric (Amphiprotic) Substances - canbehave like an acid or a base

Substances that have a H out front and have a negativecharge can behave like an acid or base, for example

Acid: HCO3- + H2O W H3O+ + CO32-

Base: HCO3- + H2O W H2CO3 + OH-

Acid-Base Study GuideAcid = proton donorMEMORIZE THESE:HNO3Nitric AcidHNO3 ( H+ + NO3-MEMORIZE THESE:Group IA hydroxides LiOH, NaOH, KOH, etcWeak Bases (= weak electrolytes)

NH3 + H2O ( NH4+ + OH-