Weak Base Solutions

A weak base is a Brønsted base that accepts a proton from water to produce hydroxide ions, but reacts only partially with water. Unlike strong bases that completely dissociate, weak bases establish an equilibrium between the molecular form and ionized products. Ammonia is a common example, with only about 1% of dissolved ammonia present as ammonium ions under typical conditions.

The base dissociation constant (Kb) expresses the ratio of product concentrations to reactant concentration at equilibrium. For ammonia, Kb = 1.76 × 10⁻⁵. By constructing an ICE table with initial and equilibrium concentrations, you substitute values into the Kb expression to solve for hydroxide ion concentration, which then determines pOH and pH of the solution.

The ICE table tracks Initial, Change, and Equilibrium concentrations of all species in a weak base equilibrium. It organizes data systematically, showing how concentrations shift from initial values to equilibrium. This method simplifies substitution into the Kb expression and helps identify which concentrations to use when calculating hydroxide ion concentration and subsequent pH values.

First, calculate pOH by taking the negative logarithm of hydroxide ion concentration. Then use the relationship pH + pOH = 14 to find pH. For example, a 0.23 M ammonia solution with hydroxide ion concentration of 2 × 10⁻³ M yields pOH of 2.70 and pH of 11.30, confirming the basic nature of the solution.

Yes. Convert pH to pOH using pH + pOH = 14, then calculate hydroxide ion concentration from pOH. Construct an ICE table using the known initial concentration and calculated hydroxide ion concentration at equilibrium. Substitute these values into the Kb expression to solve for the base dissociation constant of the weak base.

Weak bases show partial dissociation, so the change in concentration (x) is typically very small compared to the initial concentration. The approximation is valid when x is less than 5% of the initial concentration. For ammonia, x = 2 × 10⁻³ M is only 0.86% of 0.23 M, justifying the simplification and making calculations manageable.

Ammonia is produced globally in quantities exceeding 100 metric tons annually. It serves as an agricultural fertilizer, a raw material for chemical synthesis of other compounds, and an active ingredient in household cleaners. Its partial dissociation in water and resulting hydroxide ion production make it valuable across industrial, agricultural, and consumer applications.