# Polyprotic Acids & Bases


According to Brønsted and Lowry an acid is a proton donor and a base is a proton acceptor. This idea of proton donor and proton acceptor is important in understanding monoprotic and polyprotic acids and bases because monoprotic corresponds to the transfer of one proton and polyprotic refers to the transfer of more than one proton. Therefore, a monoprotic acid is an acid that can donate only one proton, while polyprotic acid can donate more than one proton. Similarly, a monoprotic base can only accept one proton, while a polyprotic base can accept more than one proton.

## Introduction

One way to display the differences between monoprotic and polyprotic acids and bases is through titration, which clearly depicts the equivalence points and acid or base dissociation constants. The acid dissociation constant, signified by $$K_a$$, and the base dissociation constant, $$K_b$$, are equilibrium constants for the dissociation of weak acids and weak bases. The larger the value of either $$K_a$$ or $$K_b$$ signifies a stronger acid or base, respectively.

Here is a list of important equations and constants when dealing with $$K_a$$ and $$K_b$$:

For the general equation of a weak acid,

$HA_{(aq)} + H_2O_{(l)} \rightleftharpoons H_3O^+_{(aq)} + A^-_{(aq)} \label{1}$

you need to solve for the $$K_a$$ value. To do that you use

$K_a = \dfrac{[H_3O^+][A^-]}{[HA]} \label{2}$

Another necessary value is the $$pK_a$$ value, and that is obtained through $$pK_a = {-logK_a}$$

The procedure is very similar for weak bases. The general equation of a weak base is

$BOH \rightleftharpoons B^+ + OH^- \label{3}$

Solving for the $$K_b$$value is the same as the $$K_a$$ value. You use the formula

$K_b = \dfrac{[B^+][OH^-]}{[BOH]} \label{4}$

The $$pK_b$$ value is found through $$pK_b = {-logK_b}$$

The $$K_w$$ value is found with$$K_w = {[H3O^+]}{[OH^-]}$$.

$K_w = 1.0 \times 10^{-14} \label{5}$

## Monoprotic Acids

Monoprotic acids are acids that can release only one proton per molecule and have one equivalence point.

Here is a table of some common monoprotic acids:

Table 1: Common Monoprotic Acids
Name Formula $$\pmb{K_a}$$
Hydrochloric acid (strong) HCl 1.3 x 106
Nitric acid (strong) HNO3 2.4 x 101
Acetic acid (weak) CH3COOH 1.74 x 10-5

## Monoprotic Bases

Monoprotic Bases are bases that can only react with one proton per molecule and similar to monoprotic acids, only have one equivalence point. Here is a list of some common monoprotic bases:

Table 2: Common Monoprotic Bases
Name Formula $$\pmb{K_b}$$
Sodium hydroxide (strong) NaOH 6.3 X 10-1
Potassium hydroxide (strong) KOH 3.16 X 10-1
Ammonia (weak) NH3 1.80 x 10-5
##### Example $$\PageIndex{1}$$

What is the pH of the solution that results from the addition of 200 mL of 0.1 M CsOH(aq) to 50 mL of 0.2M HNO2(aq)? (pKa= 3.14 for HNO2)

###### Solution

$\dfrac{0.1 mol}{L}*200 mL* \dfrac{1 L}{1000 mL} = {0.02 mol CsOH} \nonumber$

$\dfrac{0.2 mol}{L}*50 mL* \dfrac{1 L}{1000 mL} = {0.01 mol HNO_2} \nonumber$

Then do an ICE Table for

$CsOH + HNO_2 \rightleftharpoons H_2O + CsNO_2 \nonumber$

yielding $$[CsOH]= [OH^-]= 0.01M$$

Then to find pH first we find pOH $$pOH = {-log[OH^-] = -log[\dfrac{0.01}{0.25}] = 1.4}$$

Then $$pH = {14 - pOH}$$, plugging in

pH = 14 - 1.4 = 12.6

## Polyprotic Acids and Bases

So far, we have only considered monoprotic acids and bases, however there are various other substances that can donate or accept more than proton per molecule and these are known as polyprotic acids and bases. Polyprotic acids and bases have multiple dissociation constants, such as $$K_{a1}$$, $$K_{a2}$$, $$K_{a3}$$ or $$K_{b1}$$, $$K_{b2}$$, and $$K_{b3}$$, and equivalence points depending on the number of times dissociation occurs.

### Polyprotic Acids

Polyprotic acids are acids that can lose several protons per molecule. They can be further categorized into diprotic acids and triprotic acids, those which can donate two and three protons, respectively. The best way to demonstrate polyprotic acids and bases is with a titration curve. A titration curve displays the multiple acid dissociation constants ($$K_a$$) as portrayed below.

Here is a list of some common polyprotic acids:

Table 3: Common Polyprotic Acids
Name Formula $$\pmb{K_{a1}}$$ $$\pmb{K_{a2}}$$ $$\pmb{K_{a3}}$$
Sulfuric acid (strong, diprotic) H2SO4 1.0 x 103 1.2 x 10-2 -
Carbonic acid (weak, diprotic) H2CO3 4.2 x 10-7 4.8 x 10-11 -
Phosphoric acid (weak, triprotic) H3PO4 7.1 x 10-3 6.3 x 10-8 4.2 x 10-13

### Polyprotic Bases

Polyprotic bases are bases that can attach several protons per molecule. Similar to polyprotic acids, polyprotic bases can be categorized into diprotic bases and triprotic bases. Here is a list of some common polyprotic bases:

Table 4: Common Polyprotic Bases
Name Formula $$\pmb{K_b}$$
Barium hydroxide (strong, diprotic) Ba(OH)2
Phosphate ion (triprotic) PO43-
Sulfate ion (diprotic) SO42-
##### Example $$\PageIndex{2}$$

For a 4.0 M H3PO4 solution, calculate (a) [H3O+] (b) [HPO42--] and (c) [PO43-].

$H_3PO_4 + H_2O \rightleftharpoons H_3O^+ + H_2PO_4^- \nonumber$

###### Solution

(a) Using ICE Tables you get:

$K_{a1} = \dfrac{[H_3O^+][H_2PO_4^-]}{[H_3PO_4]} \nonumber$

So,

$$x^2$$ = .0284

$$x$$ = 0.17 M

(b) From part (a), $$x$$ = [H2PO4-] = [H3O+] = 0.17 M

(c) To determine [H3O+] and [H2PO4-], it was assumed that the second ionization constant was insignificant.

The new equation is as follows:

$$H_2PO_4^- + H_2O \rightleftharpoons H_3O^+ + HPO_4^{2-}$$

Using ICE Tables again:

$$K_{a2} = [HPO_4^{2-}] = 6.3 \times 10^{-8}$$

##### Example $$\PageIndex{3}$$

The polyprotic acid H2SO4 can ionize two times ( $$K_{a1}>>1$$, $$K_{a2} = 1.1 * 10^-2$$). If we start with 9.50*10-3 M solution of H2SO4, what are the final concentrations of H2SO4, HSO4-, SO42-, and H3O+.

###### Solution

The equation for the first ionization is $$H_2SO_4 + H_2O \rightleftharpoons H_3O^+ + HSO_4^-$$. This equation goes to completion because H2SO4 is a strong acid and $$K_{a1}>>1$$.

So since the reaction goes to completion, doing an ICE Table you get [H30+] = 9.50*10-3 M and [HSO4-] = 9.50*10-3 M (after the first ionization).

The equation of the second ionization is $$HSO_4- + H_2O \rightleftharpoons H_3O^+ + SO_4^2-$$. Using the equation $$K_{a2} = \dfrac{[H_3O^+][SO_4^2-^-]}{[HSO_4^-]}$$, $$K_{a2} = 1.1 * 10^-2$$, and an ICE Table to get $$x^2 + .0.0205x - 0.0001045 = 0$$.

Then you use the quadratic equation to solve for X, to get $$x$$ = 0.004226.

Now we need to solve for the necessary concentrations

$$[H_2S0_4]$$ = 0 (because the first ionization reaction went to completion)

$$[HS0_4^-]$$ = $$k_{a1}$$ - $$k_{a2}$$ = 9.50*10-3 M - 0.004226 M = 5.27*10-3 M

$$[SO_4^2-]$$ = $$k_{a2}$$ = .004226 M

$$[H_3O^+]$$ = $$k_{a1}$$ + $$k_{a2}$$ = 9.50*10-3 M + 0.004226 M = 1.37*10-2 M

## Summary

• Ka and Kb are equilibrium constants and a high value signifies a stronger acid or base.
• Acid are proton donors and bases are proton acceptors.
• Monoprotic acid/base corresponds to the donation/acceptance of only one proton.
• Polyprotic acid/base corresponds to the donation/acceptance of more than one proton.
• Remember diprotic and triprotic.
• $$K_{a1}$$>$$K_{a2}$$>$$K_{a3}$$
##### Common Errors

Assuming that the [H30+] is the same for all the ionizations. In fact, the pH is dominated by only the first ionization, but the later ionizations do contribute very slightly.

## References

1. Petrucci, et al. General Chemistry: Principles & Modern Applications. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2007.
2. Sadava, et al. Life: The Science of Biology. 8th ed. New York, NY. W.H. Freeman and Company, 2007
3. Hulanicki, Adam. Reactions of Acids and Bases In Analytical Chemistry. New York, NY: Ellis Horowood Limited, 1987.

Polyprotic Acids & Bases is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Christopher Spohrer & Zach Wyatt.