1. Matter and Measurements4h 29m
2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 35m
7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
9. Solutions4h 10m
10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
17. Amines38m
18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
19. Enzymes1h 37m
20. Carbohydrates1h 46m
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22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
23. Lipids2h 26m
24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m

10. Acids and Bases

Bronsted Lowry Acid and Base

GOB Chemistry

10. Acids and Bases

Bronsted Lowry Acid and Base

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2:47 minutes

Problem 41McMurry - 8th Edition

Textbook Question

What happens when a weak base such as NH₃ is dissolved in water?

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Identify the weak base: Ammonia (NH₃) is a weak base.

Write the chemical equation for the dissolution of NH₃ in water: NH₃ + H₂O ⇌ NH₄⁺ + OH⁻.

Recognize that NH₃ accepts a proton (H⁺) from water, forming NH₄⁺ (ammonium ion) and OH⁻ (hydroxide ion).

Understand that the equilibrium lies to the left, meaning not all NH₃ molecules react to form NH₄⁺ and OH⁻.

Note that the presence of OH⁻ ions makes the solution basic, but since NH₃ is a weak base, the increase in pH is moderate.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Weak Base

A weak base is a substance that partially ionizes in solution, meaning it does not completely dissociate into its ions. In the case of ammonia (NH₃), it reacts with water to form ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻), but only a fraction of the ammonia molecules undergo this reaction. This characteristic leads to a lower pH compared to strong bases.

Dissociation in Water

Dissociation in water refers to the process by which a compound separates into its constituent ions when dissolved. For weak bases like NH₃, this process is incomplete, resulting in an equilibrium between the undissociated base and the ions produced. Understanding this equilibrium is crucial for predicting the behavior of weak bases in aqueous solutions.

pH and Basicity

pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution, with lower values indicating acidity and higher values indicating basicity. When NH₃ dissolves in water, it increases the concentration of hydroxide ions, which raises the pH of the solution, making it basic. The extent of this increase depends on the concentration of the weak base and its degree of ionization.