;

SULTAN KUDARAT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

National Highway, Tacurong City
NURSING DEPARTMENT
BIOCHEMISTRY

Introduction:

Many people think of an acid as a harsh liquid. For

examples, the common substance used in cleaning toilet bowls
and tiles is muriatic or hydrochloric acid. When this acid is poured
over a dirty and yellowish tile, after some time the dirt and
yellowing are removed but considerable odor or fume is also
produced. This is true for other concentrated acids. But the acid in
our stomach, gastric juice, is the substance that participates in the
digestion process and is also hydrochloric acid of low
concentration.

This module will give you a better understanding of acids

and bases.
CONTENTS:

Week 1: ACIDS AND BASES

 Acid and Base Theories

 Formulas and Names of Acids and Bases
 The pH Concept
 Indicators

GRADING SYSTEM
Written Works Performance Task Quarterly Assessment

REMINDERS:

Topics are presented in modules (printed/digitized) video clips and powerpoint

presentations.
Answers to Self Check, Task and Review portions will serve as your written works. It will be
answered in a separate sheet.
Quarterly Assessment will be given separately.

INSTRUCTOR: MONILYN PALINGUBA GREGORIO, MIB

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MODULE 1: ACIDS AND BASES
Competencies:
 define Bronsted acids and bases
 discuss the acid-base property of water
 define pH
 calculate pH from the concentration of hydrogen ion or hydroxide ions in aqueous solutions

OBJECTIVES:

In this module, you will:

a.) give the observable properties of acids and bases;

b.) explain what is meant by pH;
c.) calculate the strengths of acids and bases; and
d.) explain the use of indicators.

1.1 ACIDS AND BASE THEORIES

Acids and bases are among the most important solutes in solution. They are
compounds which have a certain characteristic properties in common. In general, acids are
compounds which, when dissolved in water,

form solutions that conduct electricity

react with metals like zinc and magnesium to produce salts and a gas –usually
hydrogen
taste sour (but not all are safe to taste), and
react with carbonates such as washing soda to produce carbon dioxide

On the other hand, bases are compounds which, when dissolved in water,

yield solutions that also conduct electric current

feel slippery or soapy on the skin
taste bitter (but not all are safe to taste)
turn red litmus paper to blue, and
react with acids to form salt and water

1.1.1 Arrhenius Theory

It is evident that acids and bases share properties common to all members of each
class. Acids and bases have been defined in different ways. Among the first to explain the
behavior of acids and bases. Among the first to explain the behavior of acids and bases was
Svante August Arrhenius (1859-1927), a Swedish chemist. According to the Arrhenius
theory, upon dissociation of water, acids yield hydrogen ions, H+, while bases yield

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hydroxide ions, OH-. (Dissociation is a reversible process wherein a molecule breaks down
into simpler molecules or ions). Consider the following:

H 2O
HCl (g) ------ H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)

H 2O
KOH(s) ------ K+ (aq) + OH- (aq)

The notation H 2O
------
means upon the addition of water or when dissolved in water
Therefore, hydrochloric acid, HCl, is an acid and potassium hydroxide, KOH, is a base.
According to studies conducted, H+, the free hydrogen ion, cannot exist in an aqueous
solution because of its high ratio of charge to radius (remember that a hydrogen ion is
nothing, but a single proton). It associates with water molecules, as represented below.
H+ + H2O ------ H3O
Thus, the dissolution of hydrochloric acid in water is represented by
HCl + H2O ----- H3O+ + Cl-
Although hydrogen ions are often used when talking about aqueous solutions, they
are always together with water molecules in the form of H 3O+ called hydronium ion.
The existence of the hydronium ions ( H3O+ ) in solutions of strong acids was
conclusively proven using infrared spectroscopy ( a technology that is used to study surfaces
and analyze the vibration of molecules).
Thus, an Arrhenius acid is defined as a substance which, upon reaction with water,
causes an increase in the concentration of the solvent cation, H3O+; and an Arrhenius base is
a substance which, upon dissolution in or reacting with water causes an increase in the
concentration of the solvent anion, OH-.

1.1.2 Dissociation of Water

Although pure water is a non-electrolyte, it does contain a very low concentration of
hydronium (H3O+ ) and hydroxide (OH-) ions, formed by the dissociation.
2 H2O ------ H3O + OH-
This is illustrated in Figure 24.2
As this is a reversible process, the product of
concentration of H3O ions x concentration of OH- ions
Concentration of H2O molecules
will be a constant in any aqueous solution. This is called dissociation constant of
water, K and at 25®C, has a value of approximately 1.8 x 10-16.
In a dilute aqueous solution, it can be assumed that the mass of water in one liter is
more or less 1000 g. As the molar mass of water is 18 g, this means that one liter of a dilute
aqueous solution contains more or less 1000/18 moles of water. i.e., 55.6 moles. And as

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only a very tiny fraction of these water molecules is dissociated into ions, we can, with only
very little error, consider that this 55.6 moles represents the concentration of water
molecules in one liter of a dilute aqueous solution. The equation above can therefore be
written as:
Kw = concentration of H3O ions x concentration of OH- ions
55.6
= 1.8 x 10-16
This can be re written as
Concentration of H3O ions x concentration of OH- ions
= (1.8 x 10 -16) x 56 = 1 x 10-14
This is called the ionic product of water, K and is the product of the H 3O and the
-
OH ion concentration in any dilute aqueous solution.
1.1.3 Bronsted_Lowry Theory
Johannes Bronsted (1879-1947), a Danish chemist, and ThomasLowry (1874-1936), an
English chemist, independently proposed an acid-base theory that took into consideration
the behavior of hydrogen ions. In the Bronsted-Lowry theory, an acid is any substance that
donates a proton to another substance, and a base is any substance that can accept a
proton from any other substance, In short,
an acid is a proton donor, and
a base is a proton acceptor.
The theory recognized that in any acid-base reaction, regardless of the solvent, the
transfer of a proton from a donor (acid) to an acceptor (base) is all that takes place.
When HCl dissolves in water, it acts as an acid in giving away its proton to the solvent.
The solvent, water, acts as a base in taking the proton.
HCl (g) + H2O (l) ------ H3O+ (aq) + Cl-1 (aq)
Ammonia, NH3, is another common base but will not be classified as such in the
Arrhenius definition since it does not have an OH group. But by the Bronsted-Lowry theory,
it’s aqueous solution is basic because NH3 accepts a proton from water to form the
ammonium ions, NH4+

SELF CHECK:
1. Identify the Bronsted-Lowry acid and base in reactants in each of the following
reactions.
a. HSO4- (aq) + PO43- (aq) ---- HPO4 2- (aq) + SO4 2- (aq)
b. HNO3 (aq) + H2O (l) --- H3O+ (aq) + NO3- (aq)
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 c. H3PO4 (aq) + CN- (aq) -- H2PO4 – (aq) + HCN (aq)

1.1.4 Lewis Theory

Gilbert Lewis (the creator of the Lewis structure) proposed another definition of an
acid and a base. According to him, chemical reactions involve the arrangement of the
valence electrons or the outermost electrons of an atom. In the Lewis theory, an acid is a
substance that accept a lone pair from another molecule, and a base is a substance that has
a lone pair of electrons. The Lewis Theory simply states that
a Lewis acid is an electron pair acceptor, and
Lewis base is an electron pair donor
Lewis defined an acid-base reaction as the sharing of an electron pair, forming a
coordinate covalent bond ( a covalent bond in which the shared electrons are donated
by one, not both, of the atoms involved). For example, in the reaction of N H 3 with water.
Adduct is the term used for the product of a Lewis acid-base reaction because it
results from the addition of the acid and the base).
SELF CHECK
2. In each of the following reactions, identify the Lewis acid and the Lewis base.
a. AlCl3 (aq) + Cl- (aq) -- AlCl4- (aq)
b. Zn (OH)2 (aq) + 2 OH- (aq) -- Zn(OH)4 2- (aq)
3. Compute the table by writing the missing information

Formula of acid Formula of Anion Name of Anion Name of Acid Use

a.HNO3 NO3- Explosives making
b. C2H3O2- Acetate Acid in vinegar
c. HF fluoride Glass etching
[Link] bleach

1.2 FORMULAS AND NAMES OF ACIDS AND BASES

Most cleaning solutions are acids and bases and there is usually a right cleaning
solution for a particular stain. Reading the label of the solution will give you an idea which
product is the best for the stain that you will remove. Therefore, we must be familiar with
the formulas of acids and bases and their respective names.

1.2.1 Naming Acids

Acids like hydrogen chloride which are composed of only two elements, hydrogen
and a nonmetal, are called binary acids. The name hydrogen chloride refers to the pure
compound which is a gas. When hydrogen chloride is dissolved in water, the solution
formed is called hydrochloric acid. Other examples are the following:
Pure acid
HF (g), hydrogen fluoride
HI (g), hydrogen Iodide

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 Aqueous solution
HF (g), Hydrofluoric acid
HI (g), Hydoiodic acid
Many other acids, called ternary acids, consist of three elements – hydrogen and two
other nonmetals. Many of these acids are oxyacids, that is, one of the two metals is oxygen.
Examples are nitric acid, HNO3 and sulfurous acid, H2SO3.
The names of these oxyacids are based on the number of oxygen atoms per molecule.
Examples are given in Tables 1.1 and 1.2

Table 1.1 Naming Oxyacids of Sulfur

Formula Name Formula and Name of Oxyanion Formed

upon Reaction with Water
H2SO3 Sulfurous acid SO3-2, sulfite
H2SO4 Sulfuric acid SO4-2, sulfate

Table 1.2 Naming Oxyacids of Chlorine

Scheme for Formula Name Formula and Name of

Naming the Oxyanion Formed upon
Acids Reaction with Water
increasing Hypo___ous HClO Hypochlorous acid ClO-, hypochlorite
number of __ous HClO2 Chlorous acid ClO2- , chlorite
Oxygen __ic HClO3 Chloric acid ClO3-, chlorate
Atoms Per_____ic HClO4 Perchloric acid ClO4-, perchlorate

Table 24.3 Common Acids and Their Uses

Name Uses
Acetic acid Acid in vinegar used to season and preserve food; cleans and
deodorizes
Hydrochloric acid Aids in digestion (0.1 M HCl); used as toilet-bowl cleaner and for
cleaning metal surfaces
Sulfuric acid Used in automobile batteries and in making dyes and plastics; a
dehydrating agent
Nitric acid Used in making explosives and fertilizers
Phosphoric acid Removes hard water deposits; used in making fertilizers; used in soft
drinks (in dilute form)
Carbonic acid Used in the manufacture of carbonated drinks
Acetylsalicylic acid Reduces pain and inflammation
(aspirin)
Hydrofluoric acid Used in glass etching
Citric acid Occurs naturally in some fruits; used in flavoring carbonated drinks

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1.2.2 Naming Bases

Bases are compounds consisting of a metal and a hydroxide ion. They dissociate into
these ions when dissolves in water. Bases are named just like binary acids in pure form; the
ions are named, then combined.

Table 24.2 Common bases and Their uses

Name Uses
Sodium hydroxide Used in making soaps and (caustic soda or
lye) detergents; a drain and oven cleaner
Lithium hydroxide Used in removing carbon dioxide from air in
confined areas such as submarines and
spaceships
Magnesium hydroxide (in milk of Magnesia) Used as an antacid in small dosages and
laxative in large amounts
Aluminum hydroxide Used as an antacid with no dosage
restriction
Calcium hydroxide Used in the preparation of plaster and
mortar

1.3 THE pH CONCEPT

Changes in the acidity or basidity of some solutions can be critical in some systems
such as the following:

A body of water supporting aquatic plants and animals

Our stomach digesting ingested food
Cells of living organisms where vital life processes are carried out
Some industrial processes where reactions take place at a desired rate

The acidity of a solution is measured by the hydronium ion concentration, (H 3O). For
most solutions this is a very small number, usually expressed using exponential notation.
In 1909, a Danish biochemist, Soren Sorensen ( 1868-1939), proposed the pH scale as a
more convenient way of expressing hydronium ion concentration. The symbol, pH,
stands for some German words which literally means “the power of the hydrogen ion.”

Table 24.6 pH of Common Substances

Substance pH
1.0 M HCl 0
Battery acid (H2SO4) 1
Gastric juice 1.6-1.8
Calamansi juice 2.2
Vinegar 2.8
Apple juice 3.0
Carbonated drink 3.1

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 Orange juice 3.5
Tomato juice 4.2
Urine 6.1
Milk 6.5
Saliva 6.5
Pure water 7
Blood 7.4
Seawater 8.4
Milk of magnesia 10.5
1.0 M NaOH 14

1.4 INDICATORS

In school laboratories and in homes, a good way to determine the pH of a solution is

by using indicators. Indicators are chemical dyes which are acids and bases that change
color at certain hydronium ion concentrations.

An indicator is an acid-base system in which the weak acid (designated as the

conjugate acid) has one color and its conjugate base has another color. A conjugate acid-
base system involves a Bronsted acid (a proton donoe) and its resulting base (a proton
acceptor) when the acid loses a proton. Some indicators like phenolphthalein are usually
used in solution, while others like litmus and universal indicator are usually impregnated on
paper strips.

KEY CONCEPTS / SUMMARY

1. An acid is defined as a substance that increases the H3O+ concentration in an aqueous

solution (according to the Arrhenius theory). It is a proton donor (according to the
Bronsted-Lowry theory) and an electron pair acceptor (according to the Lewis
theory).
2. A base is defined as a substance that increases the OH- concentration in an aqueous
solution (according to the Arrhenius theory). It is a proton acceptor (according to the
Bronsted-Lowry theory) and an electron pair donor (according to the Lewis theory).
3. pH is a measure of the H3O+ concentration of a solution. It is determined using the
equation …….. pH = -log (H3O+ )

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 4. pOH is a measure of the OH- concentration of a solution. It is determined using the
equation …..pOH = -log (OH-)
5. If the solution has a pH of 7, it is neutral; less than 7, it is acidic; and more than 7, it is
basic.
6. The strength of acids and bases can be described using the degree of ionization and
ionization constants.
7. An indicator is a substance that changes color at a certain pH range.

REVIEW

A. Choose the letter of the best answer

1. Which of the following is not present in pure water?
a. hydronium ions c. water molecules
b. hydroxide ions d. salts

2. Which of the following substances, when added to water, will form a base?
a. CO2 c. MgO
b. SO2 d. N2O3
3. Which has the lowest pH?
a. normal rain c. rain in a highly industrialized area
b. human blood d. NaOH concentrated solution
4. What is the pH of a solution that contains 0.00035 M HCl
a. 10.5 c. 6
b. 7.9 d. 3.5
5. Who proposed the theory that an acid is an electron pair acceptor and a base is an
electron pair donor?
a. Svante Arrhenius c. Gilbert Lewis
b. Thomas Lowry d. Soren Sorensen
B. Answer the following questions briefly.
1. What is the reaction between water and CaO? Write the equation
2. How does a strong acid differ from a weak acid? A strong base from a weak base?
3. What is the difference between binary acids and ternary acids?
4. What conventions are followed in writing the formulas of acids and bases?
5. What are the causes and consequences of acid rain?

REFERENCES:

Ma. Cristina D. Padolina, Ph.D., et al. Conceptual and Functional Chemistry Modular
Approach, Vibal Publishing House, Inc. Second Edition, 2010, pp 246-259

[Link]

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