Experiment 1

Biochemical
Calculations
 LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Review of manipulation of numbers in

biochemical calculations.
2. Review of conversion factors
3. Review of stoichiometric calculations
 WHY DO WE NEED TO LEARN
BIOCHEMICAL CALCULATIONS?

✓ Preparations of
solutions and dilutions.
✓ Quantitative
Biochemical Analysis https://www.thoughtco.com/dilutions-from-stock-
solutions-606085

✓ Interpretation and
presentation of data.
https://www.dreamstime.com/search.php
?srh_field=laboratory+calculator&s_il=y
 Unit Conversions
Table 1: Fundamental SI Units
 Unit Conversions
Mnemonics Prefix (Symbol) Exponent Form

That Tera (T) 1012

Great Giga (G) 109

LARGER
Morning Mega (M) 106
King Kilo (k) 103
Henry Hecto (h) 102
Died Deka (da) 101
Gram Liters Unexpectedly Unit (Basic) 100
Meters Moles

SMALLER
Drinking Deci (d) 10-1
Chocolate Centi (cm) 10-2
Milk Milli (m) 10-3
Missing Micro (µ) 10-6
Natures Nano (n) 10-9
Pictures Pico (p) 10-12
 Unit Conversions
BIGGER TO SMALLER
METHOD 1: METHOD 2:
MULTIPLY BY 10n MOVE n TO THE RIGHT
n = decimal places n = decimal places
 Unit Conversions
SMALLER TO BIGGER
METHOD 1: METHOD 2:
DIVIDE BY 10n MOVE n TO THE LEFT
n = decimal places n = decimal places
100 cm==? m
100 cm ? m

100. 2 1

1.00. cm
100 centimeters = 1 meters
 Unit Conversions
Exercise 1.
Determine the following:
a. µmol in 500 mol = 500,000,000 µmol
b. mg in 5 kg = 5,000,000 mg
c. liters in 1100 mL = 1.1 L
d. kg in 500 micrograms = 0.0000005
micrograms
e. µL in 5 L = 5,000,000 µL
 Chemical Quantity Conversions

➢ Dimensional Analysis

given unit x conversion factor = desired unit

𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡
𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 x = 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡
𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡

conversion factor:
 Chemical Quantity Conversions
➢ Example:
A person’s average intake of glucose is 0.0833 pounds.
What is this mass in milligrams (mg).
(1 lb = 453.6 g)

0.0833 lb = ? mg

given unit x conversion factor = desired unit

𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡
𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 x = 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡
𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡
 Chemical Quantity Conversions
➢ Example:
0.0833 lb = ? mg

Conversion factor → 1 lb = 453.6 g

1 g = 1000 mg

given unit x conversion factor = desired unit

453.6 𝑔 1000 𝑚𝑔
0.0833 𝑙𝑏 x x = 37, 784.88 𝑚𝑔
1 𝑙𝑏 1𝑔
3.78 𝑥 104 𝑚𝑔
 Chemical Quantity Conversions
➢ Stoichiometric Calculations
➢ Mole – central unit of quantity in
chemistry.

1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 126𝐶 = 6.022 𝑥 1023 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑠

𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 =
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
 Chemical Quantity Conversions
➢ Molar mass – the mass in grams of 1 mole
of substance.
Example:
Molar mass of
 Chemical Quantity Conversions
Calculating the number of moles, mol
 Chemical Quantity Conversions
Calculating the number of millimoles, mmol
 Chemical Quantity Conversions
Example:
Find the number of moles and millimoles of benzoic acid
(molar mass = 122.1 g/mol) that are contained in 2.00 g of
pure acid.
 Unit Conversions
Exercise 2.
Solve the following:
a. Calculate the number of moles in 500 mg
Na2WO4 (sodium tungstate). Ans. 0.00170
mol.
b. What is the weight, in mg, of 0.250 mmol
Fe2O3? 39.9 mg
c. Calculate the number of millimoles in 1.26
g AgNO3. Ans. 7.4 mmol
 Composition of Solutions
➢ Solute – the substance being dissolved.
➢ Solvent – the liquid in which the solute is
dissolved
➢ Solutions → homogenous mixture of solutes
and solvents that is expressed in
concentrations.

Photo: https://thechemistrynotes.com/solute-vs-solvent/
 Concentrations of Solutions
➢ general measurement unit stating the amount of
solute present in a known amount of solution.
➢ An expression stating the relative amount of
solute per unit volume or unit mass of solution.

➢ Units for Expressing Concentration

1. Molarity
2. Normality
 Concentrations of Solutions
➢ Cont. Units for expressing concentrations

3. Molality
5. Percent concentrations
a. Mass Percent
b. Volume Percent
c. Mass/Volume Percent
6. Parts per million (ppm)
7. Parts per billion (ppb)
 Molarity (M)
➢ Defined as the number of moles of solute
dissolved per liter of solution.
➢ Can be calculated using:
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
SINCE: 𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 =
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒Τ𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
 Molarity (M)
➢ Molar concentrations usually given in
square brackets.
➢ Example:
[NaOH] → molarity of Sodium hydroxide

http://equilibriumchemistry11.blogspot.com/
 Molarity (M)
➢ Example 1:
What is the molarity of a solution that has 4.5 mol of
solute dissolved in 300.0 mL of solution?

𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

4.5 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 = = 15 𝑀
0.300 𝐿
 Molarity (M)
➢ Example 2:
Calculate the molarity of a solution of NaOH that has
0.491 g dissolved in 400.0 mL of solution?
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 0.491 𝑔
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 = =
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 39.997 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙

𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒Τ𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
0.491 𝑔Τ39.997 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 = = 0.0307 𝑀
0.400 𝐿
 Molarity (M)
➢ Example 3:
Describe the preparation of 2.00 L of 0.108 M BaCl2
from BaCl2 • 2 H2O (244.3 g/mol).
 Molarity (M)
➢ Assignment:
1. Calculate the molar concentration of ethanol in an
aqueous solution that contains 2.3 g of C2H5OH
(46.07 g/mol) in 3.5 L of solution?
2. A solution is prepared by dissolving 5.26g of AgNO3
in a 500 mL volumetric flask and diluting to mark.
Calculate the molarity.
3. How many grams Na2SO4 should be weighed out
to prepare 500 mL of a 0.100 M solution?
 Molality (m)
➢ Defined as the number of moles of solute
dissolved per kilogram of solution.
➢ Can be calculated using:
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
SINCE: 𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 =
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒Τ𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑘𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Molality (m)
 Normality
➢ Defined as the number of equivalents of
solute and its equivalent weight, EW
𝑁𝑜. 𝑜𝑓𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 (𝑛)
Normality =
𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 (𝑔)

No. of Equivalents =
𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 (𝐸𝑊)

Normality = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 × 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒

 Normality
➢ Equivalent Weight, EW
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
EW =
𝑛

→ For oxidizing and reducing agents:

n = number of electrons gained or lost per

molecule
 Normality
➢ Equivalent Weight, EW
→ For ACIDS (acid/base neutralization
reaction)
n = number of replaceable hydrogen
→ For BASES (acid/base neutralization
reaction)
n = number of replaceable hydroxyl ions
 Normality
Example 1:
Normality
 Normality
Example 2:
What is the normality of H2SO4 solution that
contains 24.5 g of solute in a total volume of
100 mL?
Normality = 𝑛 × 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦
Solution:
n=2 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
 Normality
Solution:
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 24.5 𝑔
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 = = = 0.25 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 98 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙

Volume of solution = 100 mL = 0.1 L

0.25 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑀𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 = = 2.5 𝑀
0.1 𝐿
Normality = 2 × 2.5 𝑀 = 5 𝑁
 Normality
Exercise 3:
Anna dissolved 30 g of NaOH in 200 g of
water. What is the normality of the solution?
(Assumption: Density of the solution is 0.998
g/mL).
Normality = 𝑛 × 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦
 Normality
Exercise 3: Solution
𝑛=1

30 𝑔 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 0.998 𝑔 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 1000 𝑚𝐿

M= × × ×
200 𝑔 1 𝑚𝐿 40 𝑔 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 1𝐿

Molarity, M = 3.74 𝑀

Normality = 1 × 3.74 = 3.74 𝑁

 Milligram percent

Milligram Percent (mg %) = the weight in mg of as solute

per 100 mL of solution

→ Mostly used in clinical laboratories

EXAMPLE:
Blood glucose level of 200 mg/dl means there is
200 mg glucose in 100 mL of blood.
 Weight per Volume percent

Weight / Volume Percent (% w/v) = the weight in g of a

solute per 100 mL
of solution
𝑤 𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
% = × 100
𝑣 𝑚𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

Example:
1.5 % w/v NH4NO3 contains 1.5 grams of NH4NO3
in 100 mL of solution.
 Weight per Volume percent

EXAMPLE: Converting % w/v to Molarity.

Determine the molarity of 30 % w/v solution of HCl.

𝑤 30 𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
30 % =
𝑣 100 𝑚𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

30 𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 1000 𝑚𝐿 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻𝐶𝑙

Molarity =
100 𝑚𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
× 1𝐿
×
36.5 𝑔 𝐻𝐶𝑙

𝑚𝑜𝑙
Molarity = 8.2 or 8.2 M
𝐿
 Weight per Weight percent
Weight / Weight Percent (% w/w) = the weight in g of a
solute per 100 g
of solution

𝑤 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 (𝑔)

% = × 100
𝑤 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑔 + 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 (𝑔)

𝑤 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
% = × 100
𝑤 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
 Weight per Weight percent

→ Concentrations of commercial acids are given

in term of w/w %.
Example:
28 % w/w NH3 contains 28 grams of NH3 in 100 g
of solution.
 Weight per Weight percent

EXAMPLE: Converting % w/w to Molarity

 Weight per Weight percent

EXAMPLE: Calculating % w/w.

What is the mass percent (% w/w) of a solution prepared
by dissolving 30.0 g of NaOH in 120.0 g of water?
𝑤 30 𝑔
% = × 100 = 20% 𝑤/𝑤
𝑤 30 𝑔 + 120 𝑔
 Volume per Volume percent
Volume / Volume (% v/v) = the volume in mL of a
solute per 100 mL
of solution
𝑣 𝑚𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
% = × 100
𝑣 𝑚𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

→ Used to make solutions containing liquid

solutes.
→ Frequently used to express concentrations of
alcoholic beverages.
 Volume per Volume percent

EXAMPLE: Converting % v/v to Molarity

Determine the molarity of 20 % v/v solution of HCl.
(Density = 1.2 g/mL)
𝑣 30 𝑚𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
30 % =
𝑣 100 𝑚𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

30 𝑚𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 1000 𝑚𝐿 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻𝐶𝑙 1.2 𝑔 𝐻𝐶𝑙

Molarity =
100 𝑚𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
× 1𝐿
×
36.5 𝑔 𝐻𝐶𝑙
×
1 𝑚𝐿 𝐻𝐶𝑙

𝑚𝑜𝑙
Molarity = 9.9 or 9.9 M
𝐿
 Parts per million (ppm)
➢ Usually used for dilute solutions
➢ Parts per million is expressed by:
 Parts per million (ppm)

Example: Converting ppm to Molarity

 Weight per Volume percent

EXAMPLE: Converting ppm to % w/v

Determine the equivalent of 100 ppm in % w/v.
100 𝑚𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑡 1𝑔 1𝐿
100 ppm = × × × 100%
1 𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1000 𝑚𝑔 1000 𝑚𝐿

w
% = 5%
v
 Parts per billion (ppb)
➢ Usually used for more dilute solutions
➢ Parts per billion is expressed by:

µ𝑔 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 µ𝑔 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
cppb= =
𝐿 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑘𝑔 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
 ppm and ppb
EXAMPLE:
1. How to prepare 1 L of 150 ppm of Cu2+
using copper metal?
150 𝑚𝑔
𝐿 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
×1𝐿 = 150 mg = 0.1500 g

Weigh 0.0150 g of Cu metal and dissolve it with

small amount of nitric acid, then transfer to 1 L
volumetric flask and dilute to mark.
 ppm and ppb
EXAMPLE:
2. A 2.6 g sample of plant tissue was
analyzed and found to contain 3.6 µg zinc.
What is the concentration of zinc in the
plant in ppm? In ppb?
 Dilutions Calculations
➢ Dilution equation
STOCK
Solution 𝐶1𝑉1 = 𝐶2𝑉2 Diluted
Solution

𝐶1 = the concentration before dilution(initial)

𝑉1 = the volume before dilution (initial)
𝐶2 = the concentration after dilution (final)
𝑉2 = the volume after dilution (final)
 Dilutions Calculations
Example:
How many mL of 12 M HCl are needed to prepare
500.0 mL of a 0.60 M solution?

𝐶1𝑉1 = 𝐶2𝑉2
0.60 𝑀 (500 𝑚𝐿)
𝑉1 =
12 𝑀
𝑉1 = 25 𝑚𝐿
 Dilutions Calculations
Example:
What would be the final concentration of a 2.0 M
solution if 100 mL of it is diluted to 500 mL?

𝐶1𝑉1 = 𝐶2𝑉2
(2 M) (100 mL)= 𝐶2 (500 𝑚𝐿)
2 𝑀 × 100 𝑚𝐿
𝐶2 = ( )
500 𝑚𝐿
𝐶2 = 0.4 𝑀
 Acids and Bases
Acids
➢ an aqueous solution that has H+ ions.
➢ The more H+ ions, the more acidic the
solution.
➢ Examples of acids: HCl (H+ and Cl-), HNO3
(H+ and NO3-)
 Acids and Bases
Base
➢ An aqueous solution that has OH- ions.
➢ Base = alkaline
➢ Examples of Bases: NaOH (Na+ and OH-),
Ca(OH)2 (Ca+2 and OH-)
 Acids and Bases
pH scale
➢ acidity or basicity of a solution can be
described by the [H+] or [OH-]
➢ The pH scale was proposed in order to
provide an easier means of describing
acidity

pH = - log [H+]
Acids and Bases
 Acids and Bases
Interpreting the pH scale:
 Acids and Bases
Example:
What is the pH of a water sample that has a
hydrogen ion concentration of 4.0 x 10-5 M?

pH = - log [H+]
pH = -log [4.0 x 10-5]
pH = 4.4
Example:
 Acids and Bases
pOH
➢ pOH is determined in the same way as pH:
pOH = - log [OH-]

➢ Since Kw = [H+] x [OH-] = 1.0 x 10-14

pH + pOH = 14
 Acids and Bases
Example:
If the pH of the solution is 3, what is the pOH?

pH + pOH = 14
pOH = 14 – 3
pOH = 11
 Acids and Bases
Example:
If the pH of the solution is 9, what is the [OH-]?
pH + pOH = 14
pOH = 14 – 9
pOH = 5
pOH = - log [OH-]
5 = - log [OH-]
log [OH-] = -5
antilog (log [OH-]) = antilog (-5)
[OH-] = 1x 10-5 M
 Acids and Bases
Exercise 4:
What is the [H+], [OH-], and pOH of a
solution with pH = 3.67?

Answers:
pOH = 10.33
[H+] = 2.14 x 10-4 M
[OH-] = 4.68 x 10-11 M
 Acids and Bases
Calculating the pH of Strong Acids/Bases
 Acids and Bases
Example:
What is the pH of a 2.5 x 10-2 mol/L solution of
sulfuric acid, H2SO4(aq)?

Since H2SO4 is a strong acid,

H2SO4 2H+(aq) + SO42-(aq)
[H+] = 2 × (2.5 x 10-2 mol/L)
pH = - log [H+]
= -log [5.0 x 10-2]
pH = 1.3
 Acids and Bases
Calculating the pH of Weak Acids/Bases
▪ Weak acids DO NOT completely ionized when dissolved in
water.
HA (aq) + H2O (l)  H3O+ (aq) + A- (aq)

Ka = [H+][A-] / [HA]

where Ka = acid dissociation constants

pKa = -log Ka (logarithmic form)

Note: The higher the value of Ka, the stronger the acid.
The lower the value of the pKa, the stronger the acid.
 Acids and Bases

pKa = -log Ka (logarithmic form)

Ka can also be calculated using the exponential form:

Ka = 10-pKa

Note: The higher the value of Ka, the stronger the acid.
The lower the value of the pKa, the stronger the acid.
 Acids and Bases
Calculating the pH of Weak Acids/Bases

Weak acids: Acetic acid (HC2H3O2), Phosphoric acid

(H3PO4), Carbonic acid (H3CO3)

Weak bases: ammonia (NH3),

aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3)
 Acids and Bases
Example:
Find the pH of a 0.5 M HF solution at 25°C.
 Acids and Bases
Example:
Find the pH of a 0.5 M HF solution at 25°C.

If

We assume that,

Thus,
 Acids and Bases
Example:
Find the pH of a 0.5 M HF solution at 25°C.
Assumption: The value of X must be less than 5% of the
value from where it is subtracted.

MUST x = < 5% of 0.50 for our

x = 0.019 M
assumption to be CORRECT.

X = 0.019 M / 0.50 M = 0.038 x 100 = 3.8 %

Since our assumption is correct, the approximation is
VALID.
 Acids and Bases
IF x > 5%, our assumption is INCORRECT, thus the
APPROXIMATION is INVALID.

USE QUADRATIC FORMULA TO SOLVE FOR X.

 Calibration Curve
➢ a method for determining the concentration
of a substance in an unknown sample.
 Calibration Curve
➢ Assumption: There’s a linear relationship
between the measured response (signals)
and the amount of the unknown.
➢ Regression model
 Calibration Curve
➢ Regression model
y - intercept

slope unknown
concentration

➢ Slope-intercept form
of the straight line
 Calibration Curve
➢ Example: The data in the table below were obtained during a
colorimetric determination of glucose in blood serum.
Meanwhile, a serum sample gave an absorbance of 0.413.

Glucose Absorbance, A
concentration, mM
0.0 0.002
2.0 0.150
4.0 0.294
6.0 0.434
8.0 0.570
10.0 0.704
 Calibration Curve
➢ Solution:

y= 𝒎𝒙 + 𝒃
0.413= 𝟎. 𝟎𝟕𝟎𝟒𝒙 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟖𝟑
𝒙 = 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓 𝒎𝑴 Answer: Concentration of the unknown
sample