After reading these notes, test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Polyprotic Acids

Acids are classified by the number of hydronium ions per molecule that they can give up in a reaction. Polyprotic acids give up more than one hydronium ion.

Monoprotic acids

Monoprotic acids

  • Acids such as HCl, HNO3, and HCN that contain one ionizable hydrogen atom in each molecule are called monoprotic acids.
  • Their reactions with water are:
    • HCl(aq) + H2O(l) ⟶ H3O+(aq) + Cl−(aq)
    • HNO3(aq) + H2O(l) ⟶ H3O+(aq) + NO3-(aq)
    • HCN(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ H3O+(aq) + CN-(aq)
  • Even though it contains four hydrogen atoms, acetic acid, CH3CO2H, is also monoprotic because only the hydrogen atom from the carboxyl group (COOH) reacts with bases.
Diprotic acids

Diprotic acids

  • Diprotic acids contain two ionizable hydrogen atoms per molecule. Ionization of such acids occurs in two steps.
  • The first ionization always takes place to a greater extent than the second ionization.
  • For example, sulfuric acid, a strong acid, ionizes as follows:
  • First ionization:
    • H2SO4(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ H3O+(aq) + HSO4-(aq)     𝐾a1 = more than 102;
  • Second ionization:
    • HSO4-(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ H3O+(aq) + SO42- (aq)     𝐾a2 = 1.2 × 10-2
Titration curves

Titration curves

  • The stepwise ionization of diprotic acids can be seen on titration curves as there will be two equivalence points.
  • Using the titration of H2SO4 with LiOH as an example:
    • At the first equivalence point, all the H3O+ ions from the first ionization have reacted with OH- ions from LiOH.
    • By the second one, all H3O+ ions have reacted with the OH- ions from LiOH and been neutralized.
Jump to other topics
1

Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter

2

Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure

3

Structure - Classification of Matter

3.1

The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements

3.2

Periodic Trends

3.3

Group 1 Alkali Metals

3.4

Halogens

3.5

Noble gases, group 18

3.6

Functional Groups: Classification of Organic

3.7

Functional Group Chemistry

3.8

Alkanes

3.9

Alcohols

3.10

Halogenoalkanes

4

Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?

5

Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?

6

Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change

7

Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium