SOLUTION EXERCISES ON ACID-BASE

2nd Year of Baccalaureate

1- Calculate the richness of a commercial caustic soda, expressed in % of hydroxide

sodium, if dissolving 5.0 g of it in water, the solution needs for its
complete neutralization 200 cm3of 0.5 M HCl solution.
Datos: Masas atómicas en uma: Na= 23; O = 16; Cl = 35,5; H = 1.

HCl + H2O → H3O+ + Cl-

[H3O+] initial= [HCl]initial0.5 M

0.5 mol of H3O+

0.2 l of solution = 0.1 mol H3O+
1 l of solution

For complete neutralization

number of moles of OH- number of moles of H3O+ = 0.1
number of moles of OH- number of moles of NaOHinitial0.1 moles of pure NaOH

40 g of NaOH
0.1 moles of NaOH. 4 g of pure NaOH
1 mole of NaOH

4 g of pure NaOH
= 0.8 = 80% of wealth
5 grams total

2- What are the concentrations of the ions: HSO44y H+ -in a solution

2-
1
M of sulfuric acid?
Date: Kafrom the 2nd dissociation of sulfuric acid = 1.2 . 10-2

H2SO4+ H2O → HSO4-+ H3O+

1M 1M 1M

The H2SO4It is strong and reacts totally with water. The HSO4it is- weak. If it ionizes
an amount x of HSO4 -
HSO4-+ H2O → SO42- + H3O+
1-x x x

[SO4]2-[H3O+] x2
-2
K a= ; 1,2 . 10 =
-
4] 1- x

x = 0.103 M

[HSO41- - x = 1 - 0.103 = 0.896 M

 2-
[SO4= x = 0.103 M
+
[H3O ] = x + 1 = o,103 + 1 = 1,103 M
↓
originating from H2SO4

3- Write the 1 M aqueous solutions of the compounds in increasing order of pH.

the following: hypochlorous acid, sodium hydroxide, nitric acid, sodium nitrite, and nitrate
sodium. Formulate the different compounds and indicate their acidic, neutral, or basic character.
in aqueous solution

hypochlorous acid HClO

sodium hydroxide NaOH
nitric acid
sodium nitrite NaNO2
sodium nitrate NaNO3
The highest pH corresponds to NaOH, which is a strong base and completely dissociates.
Na+ + OH- ⇒ basic pH
Sodium→Hydroxide
Afterwards, sodium nitrite, which is a salt of a weak acid (HNO)2) and strong base (NaOH) and
it undergoes hydrolysis, resulting in a basic pH.
Sodium → NO2-+ Na+, the Na+ does not react with water because it comes from a base
nitride
-
strong and will be stable, the NO2reacts with water:
NO2-+ H2O → HNO2+ OH- ⇒ Basic pH.
The NaNO3→ Na+ + NO3It- is a salt of strong acid and strong base, the two ions will be stable.
in front of the water and the pH will be neutral, 7.
Next will be HClO, which is a weak acid and dissociates partially, the pH will be
acid but lower than that resulting from HNO3What is a strong acid and will it be completely
disassociated.
HClO + H2O ↔ ClO- + H3O+ ⇒ acidic pH
HNO3+ H2O → NO3-+ H3O+ ⇒ acidic pH, higher in this second case, because the
the reaction is completely shifted to the right and the concentration of the
products. In increasing order: HNO3< HClO < NaNO3NaNO2sodium hydroxide

4- Calculate the acid dissociation constant of hypochlorous acid, knowing that a solution
0.30 M of said acid in water has, at 25ºC, a pH = 4.02.

ClO- + H3O++ H2O ↔ ClO- + H3O+

[ClO-] .[ H3O+]
K a=
Hypochlorous acid

pH = 4,02 ⇒ [H3O+= antilog (- 4.02) = 9.55 . 10-5

[ClO-= [ H3O+]= 9.55 . 10-5
[HClO] = 0.3 - 9.55 . 10-50.299
↓ initial concentration

(9,55 . 10-5)2
K a= = 3.04 . 10-8
0.299
5- Calculate the pH and the degree of dissociation of butyric acid (butanoic) in a
dissolution of which contains 8.8 g of butyric acid per liter.
Data: Ka1.5 . 10-5

C3H7COOH + H2O ↔ C3H7COO- + H3O+

0.1 - x x x

Ka= 1.5 . 10-5

8.8 g of C3H7COOH 1 mol C3H7COOH
[C3H7COOHinitial = . 0.1 M
L of dissolution 88 g of C3H7COOH

C3H7COO-] . [H3O+]
K a=
[C3H7COOH

x.x x2
1.5 . 10-5= = , x2+ 1.5 . 10-5x - 1.5 × 10-6= 0
0.1 - x 0.1 - x

x = 1.21 . 10-3

[H3O+] = x = 1.21 . 10-3 ⇒ pH = -log 1.21 . 10-3= 2.91

cionized 1.21 . 10-3

α= = = 1.21 . 10-21.21%
Cinitial 0,1

6- The concentration of OH ions-from an aqueous solution of a weak base, BOH, of

concentration 0.100 M is 1.42 . 10-3moles/liter at 25 ºC. Calculate:
a) The ionization constant of that base
b) The concentration that a solution of this base must have for its pH to be 12.

BOH ↔ B+ + OH-
a) [OH-] = [B+= 1.42 . 10-3M
[BOH] = 0.100 - 1.42 . 10-30.09858
↓ initial concentration

[B+] . [OH-] (1.42 . 10-3)2

K b= = = 2.04 . 10-5
[BOH] 0.09858

b) If pH = 12
pOH = 14 - 12 = 2 ⇒ [OH-] = [B+] = 10-2

[BOH] = c - 10-2
↓ initial concentration
 10-2. 10-2
2.04 x 10-5= ; 4.9 M
c - 10-2

7- Calculate the volume of a 2.5 M sodium hydroxide solution needed for

neutralize 10 ml of 98% sulfuric acid by weight with a density of 1.84 g/ml.
Datos: Masas atómicas en uma: Na = 23; S = 32; O = 16; H = 1.

NaOH → Na+ + OH-

[OH-] = [NaOH]initial2.5 M
Number of moles of OH- = 2.5 . volume
H2SO4+ 2H2O → SO42- + 2H3O+

98 g of H2SO4 1 mole of H2SO41.84 g solution 1000 ml

. . . 18.4 M
100 g of solution 98 g of H2SO4 1 ml of solution 1l

[H3O+] = 2 . [H2SO4] initial36.8 M

36.8 mol of H3O+

Number of moles of H3O+ = 0.01 l of solution = 0.368 moles of H3O+
the dissolution

For complete neutralization, the following must be met:

number of moles of H3O+ number of moles of OH-
2,5 . volumen = 0,368
0.1472 l

8- Identify the acid and the base in each equation:

NH2-(aq)+ H2O(l)NH3(aq)+ OH-(aq)
-
H2C2O4 aqueous+H2O(l)↔HC2O4 (aqueous) + H3O+
2 -
HPO4 (aqueous) + H+(aq) H2PO4 (aq)
HC2O4-(aq)+ CO3 2-(aq) ↔C2O4 (aq) 2- -
+ HCO3 (aq)
PH4+(aq) + H2O(l)PH3(aq)+ H3O+ (aq)

NH2- (aq) + H2O(l) ↔ NH3(aq) + OH-(aq)

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
Base acid conjugate acid base
Capture protons (cede protons)

H2C2O4(aq) + H2O(l) ↔ HC2O4 -(aqueous) + H3O+

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
Acid base conjugated base acid
Gives protons (capture protons)

HPO4 2-(aq) + H+ (aq) ↔ H2PO4 -(aq)

↓ ↓
Base (proton acceptor) conjugate acid (donates protons)
HC2O4-(aq) + CO32-(aq) ↔ C2O42-(aq) + HCO3-(aq)
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
Acid base base acid
(Yield protons) (accepts protons) (accepts protons) (cede protons)

PH4 +(aq) + H2O(l) ↔ PH3(aq) + H3O+ (aq)

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
Acid base base acid
(Give protons) (accepts protons) (accepts protons) (protons cede)

9- Calculate the dissociation constant at 25 ºC of chloroacetic acid (CH2Cl-COOH

Yes, in a 0.01 M solution, it is 31% ionized.

CH2Cl-COOH + H2O ↔ CH2Cl-COO- + H3O+

c - cα cα cα
c(1 - α )
c = 0.01 M α = 31 % = 0.31
-
2Chloroacetate ] . [ H3O+] cα . cα cα 2 0.01 . 0.312
K a= . = = 1.39 × 10-7
[CH2Cl-COOH c(1 - α ) 1-α 1 – 0.31

10- At 25 ºC, a 0.10 M solution of a monoprotic weak acid HA has a

dissociation constant of 3.5 . 10-8Calculate the concentrations at equilibrium of
the different species in solution. What is their pH?

HA + H2O ↔ A- + H3O+
0.10 - x x x

[A-] . [ H3O+] x2
Ka= 3.5 . 10-8= =
[HA] 0.10 - x

x2+ 3.5 . 10-8x -3.5 . 10-9= 0

x = 5.9 . 10-5M
[H3O+] = x = 5.9 . 10-5M
[A-] = x = 5,9 . 10-5M
[HA] = 0.10 - x = 0.0999 M
pH = -log (5.9 x 10)-5) = 4,22

11- Citric acid H3C6H5O7, it is a triprotic acid found in the juice of

lemon. Its acid dissociation constants are:
K1= 7.5 . 10-4, K2= 1.7 . 10-5, K3= 4.0 . 10-7
Calculate: a) The equilibrium constant of the reaction:
H3C6H5O7+ 3 H2O↔H3C6H5O3-+ 3 H3O+
b) The concentration of the different ions in solution, knowing that the pH of the
the same is 3.0 and the concentration of citric acid at equilibrium is 0.10 M.
 -
H3C6H5O7+ H2O ↔ H2C6H5O7+ H3O+

[H2C6H5O73- O+]
K 1=
[H3C6H5O7]

H2C6H5O7+ H- 2O 2-
↔ HC6H5O7+ H3O+

[HC6H5O7.2-[H3O+]
K 2=
[H2C6H5O7]-
2-
3) HC6H5O7+ H2O ↔ C6H5O73- + H3O+

[C6H5O7]3-. [H3O+]
K 3=
[HC6H5O7]

[C6H5O7]3-. [H3O+] 3
K1. K2. K3= K = 7.5 × 10-4. 1.7 . 10-5. 4.0 . 10-7= 5.1 . 10-15
[H3C6H5O7]

[H3O+antilog (- pH) = antilog (-3) = 10-3M

H3C6H5O7+ 3 H2O ↔ 3H3O+ + C6H5O7 3-

0,1 10-3 x

(10-3)3. x
K=
0.1
x = 5.1 × 10-7M = [C6H5O7]3-
2-
3) HC6H5O7+ H2O ↔ H3O+ + C6H5O7 3-
y 10-3 5.1 . 10-7

10-3. 5.1 . 10-7

2-
K34.0 x 10-7= ; y = [HC6H5O71,275 . 10-3M
y
-
2) H2C6H5O7+ H2O ↔ H3O+ + HC6H5O7 2-
z 10-3 1,275 . 10-3

10-3. 1,275 . 10-3

K 2= = 1.7 . 10-5; z = [H2C6H- 5O7= 0.075 M
z

A mixture of 46.3 g of potassium hydroxide and 27.6 g of pure sodium hydroxide,

they dissolve in a little water and the solution is diluted to 500 cm3exactly.
Calculate the volume of a 0.5 M sulfuric acid solution that will be needed for
neutralize 30 cm3from the previous alkaline dissolution.
Datos: Masas atómicas en uma: Na = 23; K = 39; S = 32; O = 16; H = 1.

46.3 g of KOH 1 mol of KOH

. 1,653 M
0.5 l of solution 56 g

27.6 g of NaOH 1 mol of NaOH

. 1.38 M
0.5 l of solution 40 g

KOH → K+ + OH-
2) NaOH → No+ + OH-, since both are strong bases, they are completely dissociated and
OH-] 1[KOH]initial1,653 M
-
] total0 1,653 + 1,38 = 3,03 M
-
[OH ] 2[NaOH]initial1.38 M

3.03 mol
number of moles of OH- = 0.03 l = 0.09 mol of OH-
l

H2SO4+ 2 H2O → SO42- + 2 H3O+, it is also a strong acid and is completely

disassociated, therefore
[H3O+ ] = 2 . [H2SO4] initial= 2 . 0.5 = 1 M

Number of moles of H3O+ =

1 mol/l . V = V
For complete neutralization: number of moles of OH- number of moles of H3O+
0.09 = V, 0.093

At 25 ºC, a solution of ammonia in water contains 0.17 g of this compound per

liter of solution and it is known that it is dissociated by 4.3%. Calculate:
a) The concentration of ammonium and hydroxide ions
b) The dissociation constant of ammonia in water at the mentioned temperature
c) The pH of the solution

NH3+ H2O ↔ NH4++ OH-

c(1 - α ) cα ca

0.017 g of NH3 1 mol of NH3

c= . 0.01 M
+ - -4
the dissolution 17 g 4] = [OH ]=c. α 4.3 times 10

α = 43 % = 0.043

[NH4]+ . [OH-] c2. α 2 0.01 . 0.0432

K= = = = 1.93 . 10-5
[NH3] c (1 - α ) 1 - 0.043

pOH = - log [OH-] = 3,3

pH = 14 – pOH = 10,63
At 25 ºC, the pH of an aqueous ammonia solution is 11.50. Calculate the
molarity of the solution knowing that the dissociation constant of ammonia at that
temperature is 1.8 . 10-5.

NH3 + H2 O ↔ NH4+ + OH-

c – 3.16 . 10
-3 3.16 x 10 -3 -3
3.16 . 10

11.50 14 – pH = 2.5, [OH-antilog (- pOH) = 3.16 x 10-3

[NH4]+ . [OH-] (3,16 . 10-3)2

-5
K= ; 1.8 . 10 =
[NH3] c - 3.16 . 10-3

0.56 M

15- Benzene reacts with nitric acid to form nitrobenzene. The latter is
reduce aniline with iron and hydrochloric acid.
a) Write the chemical equations corresponding to the reactions
Calculate the pH of a 0.1 M solution of phenylamine knowing that at 25 ºC its constant
Ionization is 4.2 . 10-10

C6H6+ HNO3 → C6H5NO2

C6H5NO2+ 2 Fe + 6 HCl → C6H5NH2+ 2 FeCl3+ 2 H2O
1 mol of benzene 1 mol of nitrobenzene 1 mol of aniline
5 g of benzene. . . .
78 g of benzene 1 mol of benzene 1 mol of nitrobenzene

93 g of phenylamine
5.96 g of phenylamine
1 mol of phenylamine

C6H5NH2 + H2O ↔ C6H5NH3++ OH-

0.1 - x x x

[C6H5NH3]+ . [OH-] x2
K= = = 4.2 . 10-10
[C6H5NH2] 0,1 - x

x2+ 4.2 . 10-10. x - 4.2 . 10-11= 0

x = 6.48 × 10-6= [OH-pOH = - log [OH]-] = 5.19; pH = 14 - pOH = 8.81

16- Calculate the pH of the solutions resulting from diluting to a volume of 100 cm3the
following solutions:
25 cm3from a 0.5 M NaOH solution
b) 60 cm3from a 1.0 M acetic acid solution
c) 10 cm3from a 1.0 M sodium acetate solution
Data: Acidity constant of acetic acid = 1.8 . 10-5
0.5 mol of NaOH
0.025 l solution = 0.025 mol of NaOH
1 l of solution

0.0125 mol of NaOH

= 0.125 M, being a strong base, is fully dissociated
0, 1 L of solution
Na + OH- y [OH-= [NaOH]initial0.125
Sodium→hydroxide
pOH = - log [OH]-= - log 0.125 = 0.9; pH = 14 - pOH = 13.1

b) 1 mol of CH3COOH
0.06 l of solution = 0.06 mol of CH3Carboxylic acid group
1 l of solution

0.06 mol of CH3COOH

0.6 M in CH3COOH
1 l of solution
As it is a weak acid, its dissociation is partial.
CH3COOH + H2O ↔ CH3COO- + H3O+
0.6 - x x x

[CH3COO-] . [H3O+] x2
K a= ; 1.8 . 10-5=
CH3COOH 0.6 - x

x = [H3O+= 3.28 . 10-3pH = - log(3.28 x 10)-3= 2.48

c) Salts, if dissolved, are always completely dissociated

CH3Sodium COO → CH3COO- + Na+
1 mol of CH3COONa
0.0 1 l of solution = 0.01 mol of CH3COONa
1 l of solution

0.01 mol of CH3COONa

0.1 M in CH3COONa
1 l of solution
[CH3COO-] = [CH3COONainitial= 0.1 M
The Na+, because it comes from a strong base, it is stable in water, but the CH3COO-
which comes from a weak acid, reacts with water to give back the acid of
what derives
CH3COO- + H2O ↔ CH3COOH + OH-
0.1 - x x x

K CH3COOH] . [OH-]
Kh = =
-
Ka 3COO ]
-14 2
10 x
= ⇒ x = [OH-] = 7,4 . 10-6M ; pOH = - log (7.4 . 10-6) = 5.12
-5
1.8 . 10 0,1 - x
pH = 14 – pOH = 8,87

17- Hydrogen peroxide is a weak acid in aqueous solution.

a) Write and adjust the chemical equation that shows hydrogen peroxide as a
Brönsted-Lowry acid in water.
b) Assuming that Ka1.78 x 10-2(for the loss of a proton), what is the pH of a
aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide 0.10 M.

H2O2 + H2O ↔ H3O+ + HO2-

0.10 - x x x

[H3O+] . [HO2]- x2
Ka= 1.78 . 10-2= =
[H2O2] 0.10 - x
x = [H3O+= 4.22 . 10-7; pH = - log [H3O+] = 6.37

18- The label on a sulfuric acid solution shows the following data:
1.84 g/ml
a) Determine the concentration of the acid expressed in molarity
b) How many ml of 2.00 M sodium hydroxide are required to completely react
with 10.00 ml of the previous solution.
c) what will be the pH of the resulting solution?

96 g of H2SO4 1.84 g of solution 1 mol of H2SO4 1,000 ml

. . . 18.02 M
100 g of solution 1 ml of solution 98 g of H2SO4 1l

b) The two are strong and are completely dissociated

H2SO4+ 2 H2O → SO42- + 2 H3O+
Na+ + OH-
Sodium→hydroxide

H2SO42 NaOH → No2SO4+ 2 H2O

18.02 mol of H2SO4 2 moles of NaOH 1 liter of solution
0.01 l of solution H2SO4. .
the dissolution of H2SO4 1 mol of H2SO42 moles of NaOH

0.182 l of NaOH solution = 180.2 cm3.

c) If they react completely, the pH = 7 since the formed salt (Na2SO4it comes from
strong acid and base and does not hydrolyze, so the solution will be neutral.

19- Calculate the pH of the solution resulting from mixing 50 ml of sodium hydroxide.
0.10 M with 50 ml of formic acid (methanoic) 0.10 M. Ka5.6 x 10-11.

The total volume will be 50 + 50 = 100 ml = 1l

0.10 moles of NaOH
0.05 l = 0.005 mol of NaOH
the dissolution
0.005 mol NaOH
0.05 M in NaOH
0.1 l of solution
0.10 mol HCOOH
0.05 l = 0.005 mol of HCOOH
the dissolution of
0.005 mol HCOOH
0.05 M in HCOOH
0.1 l of solution
Formic acid + Sodium hydroxide
→ Sodium formate + Hydrogen2O
According to the equation, the same concentration of acid must react as that of the base and the
the concentration of the acid and the base is the same (0.05 M) and the neutralization will be complete.
The concentration of salt formed will also be, according to the stoichiometry of the equation,
0.05 M. Since the formed salt comes from a weak acid and a strong base, it hydrolyzes.
While the cation is stable in water, the anion that derives from the acid reacts.
with the water to give the acid from which it derives.
→ formate- + Na+
Sodium formate
[HCOO-] = [Na+[HCOONa]initial0.05 M
HCOO- + H2O ↔ Formic Acid+ OH-
0.05 - x x x
K [HCOOH] . [OH-]
K h= =
Ka [HCOO-]

10-14 x2
= ⇒ x = 2.79 × 10-3M = [OH-]; pOH = -log (2.79 x 10)-3) =
2.53
5,6 . 10-110.05 - x 14 - pOH = 11.46

20- Formic acid (methanoic) is a moderately weak monoprotic acid with

a dissociation constant Ka= 1.8 . 10-4. If a 0.100 M solution of is prepared
this acid
a) What will be the pH of the solution?
Will there be formic acid in aqueous solution once equilibrium is reached?
c) If the answer to section b) is affirmative, what will be the concentration of acid?
formic in equilibrium?
-
Formic acid + Hydrogen↔
2O formate + H3O+
c-x x x
a) c = 0.001 M = 10-3M

[HCOO-] . [H3O+] x2
K a= =
Formic Acid c-x
x2
1.8 . 10-4= x = 3.44 . 10-4M = [H3O+]; pH = - log [H3O+= 3.46
10-3- x
b) Yes, it will exist because the acid is not fully ionized.
c) c - x = 10-3-3.44 . 10-4= 6.56 . 10-4M

21- Calculate the ml of 0.100 M sodium hydroxide required for the reaction.
completely with 0.976 g of benzoic acid
a) Write the chemical equation that takes place
b) What type of reaction is it?
c) Calculate the pH of the resulting solution. Consider that the final volume is that of
sodium hydroxide added.
Data: Kbfrom the benzoate anion = 1.6 . 10-10
Masas atómicas en uma: Na = 23; C = 12; O = 16; H = 1

a) C6H5Carboxylic acid + Sodium↔hydroxide

C6H5COONa + H2O

1 mol C6H5COOH 1 mol NaOH 1 L solution

0.976 g of C6H5COOH. . . 0.081 l
122 g of C6H5COOH 1 mol C6H5COOH 0.100 mol NaOH

= 80 cm3of NaOH dissolution

b) It is a neutralization reaction, an acid reacts with a base to give a
salt and water neutralizing each other's characteristic properties.
c) C6H5COONa → C6H5COO- + Na+
C6H5COO- + H2O ↔ C6H5COOH + OH-
c-x x x

[C6H5COOH . OH-]
Kh = =Kb of the benzoate
-
C6H5COO ]
Note well that it gives us the K [Link] the benzoate anion, which is the constant of
hydrolysis, instead of giving the Kaof benzoic acid, so there is no need to find the
hydrolysis constant with the formula Kh = K /Ka.
[C6H5COONainitialNaOH = 0.100 M

x2 x2
-10
1.6 . 10 = = x = 4 . 10-6M = [OH-]; pOH = -log [H3O+= 5.39
c - x 0,100 - x pH = 14 – pOH = 8,6

22- Ammonia is a compound of great importance:

a) Write the symbol and the electronic configuration of the elements of which you
obtains
b) What do you understand by formation reaction? Write the formation reaction of
ammonia.
c) State the type of bond that predominates in the elements and in the compound
d) Define Brönsted-Lowry acid and base. Could you classify ammonia as a
Is it an acid or a Brönsted-Lowry base? Explain your answers.

a) N- 1s22s22p3
H-1s1
b) It is the reaction that gives rise to one mole of a compound in its natural state (state at
ambient temperature or under standard conditions) from the compounds that it
they form in their natural state.
½ N2(g)+ 3/2 H2(g) → NH3(g)
c) Both the N2like in the H2the bond is covalent molecular and nonpolar because they unite
two equal elements. In the N2the two atoms join by sharing three pairs of
electrons forming a triple bond. The molecule is linear and, therefore, also
apolar. In the H2the two atoms bond to form a single bond, molecule
also linear and apolar
In the NH3The bond is also covalent as it joins two elements with a tendency to
to gain electrons and have high ionization energy and electronegativity. N binds to three
hydrogen atoms sharing each with a pair of electrons, leaving for the
In a pair of non-bonding electrons. According to VSEPR theory, the pairs of electrons
they are arranged around the central atom in such a way that the repulsion between them is the
as small as possible. They will head towards the vertices of a tetrahedron and at one of the vertices
it will place the pair of non-bonding electrons. The geometry will therefore be
Trigonal pyramid The formed molecule is polar as it is not symmetrical and the moments
dipoles do not cancel out.
The intermolecular bond is van der Waals, weak, because it occurs between dipoles.
instantaneous or induced. In ammonia, due to having in its molecule bonds between H and
N, which is a very electronegative and very small element, the bonds
Intermolecular forces are hydrogen bonds.
d) Brönsted-Lowry acid is a substance that is capable of donating protons and base of
Brönsted-Lowry is a substance capable of accepting them. An acid when it donates a
a proton transforms into its conjugate base and a base when it accepts it.
in its conjugate acid. Ammonia can be a base or an acid because it can donate
protons or accept them although, normally and in front of water, it behaves like a
base accepting protons. Substances that can behave as acids or as
Bases, depending on whom they react with, are called amphoteric substances or ampholytes.
NH3 + H+ → NH4+
Base conjugate acid
-
NH3 → NH2 + H+
Acid conjugate base