03 PH Acids and Basessm
03 PH Acids and Basessm
03 PH Acids and Basessm
Contents
3 CALCULATIONS OF pH OF ACID, BASE, AND SALT SOLUTIONS ..................................... 23
3.1 Acid base indicators .................................................................................................................... 24
3.2 Sample calculations with solutions ............................................................................................. 25
3.3 Exercises...................................................................................................................................... 27
23
Medical Chemistry in calculations
Calculations of pH of acids, bases and salts solutions
Acid base indicators are solutions of weak acids or bases that has distinctly different colours in its
non-ionised and ionised forms. A change in the colour of an indicator can be used to follow the progress
of an acid base reaction. Selected acid base indicators are listed in the table below:
acid base colour
indicator in acid in base pH range
Thymol blue red yellow 1.2 – 2.8
Methyl yellow red yellow 2.9 – 4.0
Bromophenol blue yellow blue 3.0 – 4.6
Methyl orange red yellow 3.1 – 4.4
Methyl red red yellow 4.4 – 6.2
Litmus red blue 4.5 – 8.3
Bromothymol blue yellow blue 6.0 – 7.6
Thymol blue yellow blue 8.0 – 9.6
Phenolphthalein colourless pink/violet 8.2 – 10.0/13.0
Thymolphthalein colourless blue 9.3 – 10.5
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Medical Chemistry in calculations
Calculations of pH of acids, bases and salts solutions
Solution:
Use the pH equation which is:
pH = − log[H3 O+ ]
pH = − log(2.3x10-2 )
pH = 1.64
Solution:
Neutral pH of distilled water will turn to alkaline due to the addition of a strong base. Use the pH
equation for strong monoprotic base:
pH = 14 − pOH = 14 + log cB = 14+ log[OH─ ]
To calculate the concentration of hydroxide anions, use the following equation:
cOH− = nOH− /VOH−
NaOH is a strong base and fully dissociates in water. Number of moles of hydroxide anions (nOH− ) will
be the same in the new solution of a volume of 1.01 L (1 L + 10 mL) as in the original solution of 10 mL
(0.01 L = 10-2 L). Number of moles of hydroxide anions in the original solutions are calculated from the
equation:
nOH− = nNaOH = cNaOH .VNaOH = 1.10-2 = 0.01 mol
Then solve for a concentration of hydroxide anions:
cOH− = 0.01/1.01 = 0.0099 mol/dm3
Now solve for pH:
pH = 14 + log (0.0099) = 14 + ( − 2) = 12
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Medical Chemistry in calculations
Calculations of pH of acids, bases and salts solutions
Solution:
Weak monoprotic acids dissociate according the following dissociation equilibrium equation:
HA+ H2 O ↔ H3 O+ + A−
The equilibrium constant, K of the acid dissociation equation is:
[A− ].[H3 O+ ]
K= [HA].[H2 O]
, where [HA] is the concentration of the acid in equilibrium, and is equal to the
initial concentration of the acid cHA in the case of weak acid: [HA] ≈ cHA .
From the stoichiometry of the reaction we see that for every 1 mole of HA converted, 1 mole of H 3O+
and 1 mole of A− is formed: [H3 O+ ] = [A− ].
The acid dissociation constant, KA is given by
KA =K.[H2 O]
Substituting:
2
[A− ].[H3 O+ ] [A− ].[H3 O+ ] [H3 O+ ].[H3 O+ ] [H3 O+ ]
KA = K.[H2 O] = [HA].[H2 O]
.[H2 O] = [HA]
= cHA
= cHA
Rearrangement, we get:
[H3 O+ ] = √KA.cHA
Substituting for pH:
1 1 1
pH = − log[H3 O+ ] = − log√KA.cHA = − log (KA.cHA ) = − logKA − logcHA
2 2 2
1 1
pH = pKA − logcHA
2 2
Substituting:
1 1 1
pH = 2
4.17 − 2 log(0.003 mol/L) = 2.085 − 2 (−2.523) = 3.346
The pH of a solution of ascorbic acid with a concentration of 3 mmol/dm3 and a pKA = 4.17 is 3.35.
(Formula for pH calculation of weak monoprotic bases is calculated similarly, starting from dissociation
equilibrium equation:
1 1
B + H2 O ↔ BH + OH− ; and is given by: pH = 14 + 2 logcBOH − 2 pKB.)
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Medical Chemistry in calculations
Calculations of pH of acids, bases and salts solutions
Solution:
We note that papaverine hydrochloride is the salt formed from a strong acid and a weak base:
HA + BOH → BA + H2 O.
The initial dissociation of the salt is: BA + H2 O → B+ + A− + H2 O.
Consequently, only the weak cation of the salt will hydrolyse: B+ + H2 O ↔ BOH + H3 O+ .
The extent of the hydrolysis is very small we can approximate: cBA ≈ [B+ ]; [H3 O+ ] = [BOH].
The base hydrolysis constant is given by:
2
[BOH].[H3 O+ ] [H3 O+ ].[H3 O+ ] [H3 O+ ]
Kh,B = K.[H2 O]2 = = =
[B+ ] cBA cBA
Rearrangement, we get:
[H3 O+ ] = √Kh,B .cBA
Substituting for pH:
1 1
pH = − log[H3 O+ ] = − log√Kh,B .cBA = log Kh,B − logcBA
2 2
The base hydrolysis constant is given also by: Kh,B = Kw /KB.
Substituting:
1 K 1 1 1 1 1 1
pH = − log ( w ) − logcBA = pKw − pKB − logcBA = 7 − pKB − logcBA
2 KB 2 2 2 2 2 2
The pH of a 205 mmol/dm3 solution of papaverine hydrochloride with the KB = 8.5x10-9 is calculated as
follows:
1 1 1 1
pH = 7 − pKB − logcBA = 7 + logKB − logcBA
2 2 2 2
1 1
pH = 7 + log(8.5x10-9 ) − log(205x10-3 )
2 2
pH = 7 − 4.035 + 0.344 = 3.3
3.3 Exercises
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Medical Chemistry in calculations
Calculations of pH of acids, bases and salts solutions
2. Calculate the concentration of the hydroxide anions in a solution containing 0.001 moles of HCl in
1 dm3. [c(OH─) = 10-11 mol/L]
3. Calculate the pH and the pOH of a solution containing 15 g of HCl and 25 g of HNO3 in a volume
of 5.4 litres. pH = 0.83
4. Calculate the dilution factor of sulphuric acid needed to change the initial pH of 1.24 to 3.34.
r = 126
5. 100 cm3 potassium hydroxide solution was added to 100 cm3 hydrochloric acid solution of pH 2.0.
The pH of the formed solution increased to 3.0. Calculate the concentration and the pH1 of the
potassium hydroxide solution, which caused the change. What will be the pH2 resulting from the re-
addition of the same potassium hydroxide solution of a volume of 100 cm3 to the existing 200 cm3
solution of pH 3.0. cKOH = 0.008 mol/L, pH1 = 11.9, pH2 = 11.3
9. Sodium hydroxide solution with a volume of 50 cm3 and a concentration of 0.2 mol/L was diluted to
800 mL. Calculate the pH of a formed solution. [pH = 12.1]
10. Calculate the pH of a 0.08 % solution of sodium hydroxide. (Mr = 40). [pH = 12.3]
11. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or aspirin, Mr = 180.157) is an aromatic carboxylic acid (KA = 3x10-4),
and is absorbed mostly in its non-ionized form. The rate of its absorption is affected by pH.
Acidaemia increases the concentration of the non-ionized form of salicylate, which speeds up the
absorption, but also reduces its urinary excretion and potentiates the toxicity of ASA.
a) Calculate the pH of a solution containing 500 mg ASA in 50 ml of distilled water.
b) What will be the pH if an additional 950 mL of distilled water is added?
c) Decide, whether increase or decrease of the pH is observed in a diluted solution. Indicate, in which
solution is the ASA ionisation increased.
a) pH = 2.4;
b) pH = 3.04;
c) Ionised form is increased at lower acidity – in a less concentrated solution.
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Medical Chemistry in calculations
Calculations of pH of acids, bases and salts solutions
12. Calculate the pH of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) solution with a concentration of 0.284 mol/dm3
and pKA = 4.17. pH = 2.36
13. Boric acid is applied in a very dilute solution as an eye wash with a pH = 5.28. Calculate the amount
of boric acid needed to prepare a solution (KA = 5.51x10-10). cHA = 0.05 mol/dm3
14. Ibuprofen (propionic acid derivative, Mr = 206.29) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with
analgesic and antipyretic properties. The pH of its saturated solution is 3.91, and the solubility is
0.010 g in 100 mL. Calculate the KA of the drug. KA = 3.16x10-5
15. Acetylcysteine (Mr (C5H9NO3S) = 163.195; pKA = 9.5 at 30 °C) is a medication used to treat
respiratory diseases with hyper-viscous mucous secretion. Calculate the pH of a solution prepared
by dilution of 1 sachet containing 600 mg in 1.5 dL of warm water. pH = 5.5
16. Calculate the pH of a solution containing 5.45 g of NH4Cl in 1 L (Mr = 54.5; pKA = 9.26).
pH = 5.13
17. Salicylic acid is a weak acid used as a key ingredient in topical products. Mass of 0.22 g anhydrous
product was obtained after drying of 100 mL of its solution with a pH 2.43. Calculate the KA of the
salicylic acid (Mr = 138.123). KA = 8.67x10-4
18. The acid dissociation constant of the acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin) is KA = 3.3x10-4. Calculate
the pH of a solution formed by dissolving two tablets of aspirin in 250 mL of distilled water. A tablet
of aspirin contains 325 mg of acetylsalicylic acid (Mr (C9H8O4) = 180.157). pH = 2.66
19. Calculate the pH of a 0.5 % solution of acetic acid (Mr = 60.05) with a density of 0.998 g/mL and a
pKA = 4.76. [pH = 2.92]
20. Calculate the KA and the pKA of a penicillin solution with a concentration of 0.040 M and the
pH = 4.70. KA = 1x10-8, pKA = 8.0
21. Codeine is an opiate used to treat pain and as a cough medicine. Calculate the KB of a 5x10-3 mol/dm3
solution with the pH = 9.95. KB = 1.59x10-6
22. Papaverine hydrochloride (pap-HCl) is a salt of a weak base and a strong acid. It is used as a smooth
muscle relaxant. Calculate the KB of a solution with the pH = 3.31 and a concentration of
205 mmol/dm3. [KB = 8.551x10-9
23. Aniline is a weak base and is forming a salt with hydrochloric acid. Calculate the pH of a 0.1 mol/L
solution with the KB = 4.27x10-10. [pH = 2.82]
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