6.3.3

Weak Bases & Kb

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Weak Bases

Not all bases fully ionize in solution.

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Weak bases

  • Weak bases behave similarly. They do not fully ionize in solution.
  • So, for weak acids and bases, the concentration of H+ or OH- ions is not just the concentration of the acid or base.
    • This makes it harder to calculate the concentrations in solution.
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Kb

  • For the reaction of a base, B:
    • B(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ HB+(aq) + OH(aq)
  • We define a new constant as Kb = [OH][HB+][B]\frac{[OH^-][HB^+]}{[B]}
  • B refers to the un-ionised base molecule, and HB+ refers to the cation remainder after gain of a proton.
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pKb

  • Just like pH, we use pKb because Kb values vary a lot.
  • The definition of pKb is:
    • pKb = −log10(Kb)

Calculating the Concentration of Ions

We can use pKb along with pH to calculate the concentrations of varying ions in solution.

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Converting pKb to Kb

  • The definition of pKb is:
    • pKb = -log10(Kb)
  • This can be rearranged into:
    • Kb = 10-pKb
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Calculating [OH-] from Kb

  • When you dissolve a weak monohydroxy (one OH- ion) base in solution, [OH-] is always equal to [BH+].
  • This means you can simplify Kb into:
    • Kb = [OH]2[B]\frac{[OH^-]^2}{[B]}
  • But, [B] is the concentration of the base added ([B]0, minus the concentration of the ionized base), so we can simplify further to:
    • Kb = [OH]2[B]0[OH]\frac{[OH^-]^2}{[B]_0 - [OH^-]}
    • If you know the values of Kb and [B]0, you can calculate the concentration of OH- ions.
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Calculating [B] from Kb and pH

  • First, use the definition of pH to calculate the [OH-].
  • Next, use [OH-] = [HB+] to simplify the equation for Kb.
  • Then, rearrange Kb to give [B]:
    • [B] = [OH]2Kb\frac{[OH^-]^2}{K_b}

Jump to other topics

1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter

2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure

3Structure - Classification of Matter

3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements

3.2Periodic Trends

3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals

3.4Halogens

3.5Noble gases, group 18

3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic

3.7Functional Group Chemistry

3.8Alkanes

3.9Alcohols

3.10Halogenoalkanes

4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?

5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?

6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change

7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis

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