AP Chemistry Unit 8.1 Introduction to Acids and Bases

AP PhysicsAP CalculusAP ChemistryAP Biology

AP Chemistry-Concise Summary Notes- All Topics

Introduction to Acids and Bases

Acids

  • All acids start with H
  • Covalent bonds bcuz hydrogen bonds with nonmetals

Naming acids

  • Binary: hydro___ic acid
  • Polyatomic: NO hydro
    • -ate = __ic acid
    • -ite = __ous acid

Bases

  • Ionic bonds because has cation with anion

Naming Bases

  • Name first element and end with hydroxide

Models of acids and bases

  • At equilibrium:
    • There is a competition for H+ between H2O and A-
    • The stronger base controls direction → The direction of equilibrium depends on if the acid is weak or strong
      • If H2O is a stronger base than A-, (H2O attracts H+ more) → forward reaction favored → most of the acid dissolved will be in the ionized form
      • If A- is a much stronger base than H2O → reverse reaction favored → at equilibrium most of the acid will exist as HA
  • Monoprotic acids: one acidic hydrogen
  • Polyprotic acids: more than one acidic hydrogen which can donate to the solution
  • Oxyacids: acidic hydrogen is attached to the oxygen of an ion
  • Organic Acids: acids that contain carbon and usually a carboxyl group, generally very weak  

Water as an Acid and a Base

  • Amphoteric: it can behave either as an acid or a base (ex: water, HSO4-)
    • As an acid:
    • As a base:
  • Water is amphoteric and autoionizes:
    • Ex:
  • (on RFS) 
    • Remember that solids and liquids are not included; temperature dependent
  • Neutral solution: [H+] = [OH-]
  • Acidic solution: [H+] > [OH-]
  • Basic solution: [H+] < [OH-]

The pH Scale

  • As pH decreases, [H+] increases exponentially
    • The pH changes by 1 for every power of 10 change in [H+]
  • Sig Figs & pH: number of sig figs of molarity = number of decimal places in pH
    • Ex:

Relationships (All on RFS)


    • P = (-) log of …
    • Ionization increases with increasing temperature (kW will be greater value)
    • Subtract 14 from pOH to find pH
  • → Given any one of these → can find the other three

Estimating Values When Not Given a Calculator 

  • Finding the -log of smthn places answer close to exponent
  • If first term is exactly 1.0 → -log of it will be the same as exponent
  • The greater the first term, the greater the answer is going to fall below the exponent
  • If first term is pi, -log of it will fall halfway between the exponent
    • Ex:
Scroll to Top