Strong Acids

Strong Bases

HCl, HBr, HI

LiOH, NaOH, KOH

HNO3

Ca(OH)2 slightly soluble

HClO4

Ba(OH)2

H2SO4

Sr(OH)2

Weak acids:
H3PO4
H2CO3
CH3CO2H
HF

Weak base:
NH3

Summary - pH of Aqueous Salt Solutions

ACIDIC ANIONS
ACIDIC CATIONS
1. Cations of WEAK Bases
Some anions of polyprotic acids
+
NH4 (main example in General Chemistry) HSO4-, H2PO4-, HSO32. Some Metal cations
Al3+, transition metal ions
NEUTRAL CATIONS
Cations of STRONG Bases
Li+, Na+, K+,
Ca2+, Ba2+, Sr2+

NEUTRAL ANIONS
Anions of STRONG Acids
Cl-, Br-, I-, NO3-, ClO4-

BASIC CATIONS
None (think about why)

BASIC ANIONS
1. Anions of WEAK acids
F-, CH3COO-, ClOHCOO-, CN-, NO22. Most anions of polyprotic acids
HCO3-, HS-, HCO3-, HPO42CO32-, SO42-, SO3 2-, S2-, PO43-

Types of Acid/Base Reactions

1. Strong Acid + Strong Base ----> Water + salt ... pH = Neutral
Example:
Net Ionic Equation:

HCl
H3O+

+
+

NaOH
OH-

----> H2O + NaCl

----> 2H2O

2. Weak Acid + Strong Base ----> Water + weak base ... pH = Basic
HF
HF

Example:
Net Ionic Equation:

+
+

NaOH
OH-

----> H2O +
----> H2O +

NaF
F-

Conjugate base of a weak acid = Basic.

Strong bases react completely with ANY acid.

The extent of this reaction is therefore 100% and the reaction will run in the forward
direction until the reactant in least supply (the limiting reagent) is used up.

3. Strong Acid + Weak Base ----> Weak Acid ... pH = Acidic

Example:
Net Ionic Equation:

HCl
H3O+

+
+

FF-

---->
HF
----> HF + H2O
Conjugate acid of a weak base = Acidic.

Strong acids react completely with ANY base.

The extent of this reaction is therefore 100% and the reaction will run in the forward
direction until the reactant in least supply (the limiting reagent) is used up.

4.
Example and
NIE:

Weak
Acid
HCN

Weak
Base

---->

F-

---->

Weak Weak
+
Acid Base
HF +

CN -

... pH depends upon relative

Ka values