Water and pH

Chemical foundations of life

Elements
On the periodic table, elements are
shown with numbers that indicate:

Atomic # = # of protons
Atomic mass/ weight = # protons + # neutrons
Chemical name (full name)
Chemical Symbol

Periodic Table of Elements

Oxygen (O)
Carbon (C)

12.011

15.999

Atomic Number... 6
Atomic Mass... 12.0111

1.008

14.007

Hydrogen (H)

Nitrogen (N)

Combining elements
element = simplest form of matter with
properties
ex. hydrogen (H)

compound = 2 or more elements bonded in a

particular proportion
ex. H2O (water)
molecule = 2 or more atoms bonded together
ex. H2 (hydrogen gas), H2O (water)

Intramolecular properties of water

Intramolecular means within
the molecule.

Each water molecule has

two polar covalent bonds.
The unequal sharing of
electrons between oxygen
and hydrogen leads to
charged regions within the
molecule.

Intermolecular properties of
water
Intermolecular means between
two molecules of water.

Negative region on the oxygen

atom of one molecule is
attracted to the positive region
on the hydrogen atom of
another molecule.
We call the attraction a
hydrogen bond.

Emergent properties of water

Cohesion is the sticking together of
water molecules with hydrogen
bonds.

Emergent properties
of water
Adhesion is the sticking of water
molecules to other polar or
charged molecules.

Emergent properties of water

Importance in living things:
Water is called the Universal solvent
because it can dissolve many polar or ionic
compounds

Temperature buffer
High specific heat capacity

Used in chemical reactions

Digestion
Photosynthesis

Due to bonding, ice is less dense than liquid

water and floats

Moles
A mole is 6.02 x 1023 molecules (Avogadros
number)
Use the atomic mass (in daltons) to calculate
the MW (molecular weight)
Ex. sucrose is C12H22O11, 1 mole = 342 daltons =
342 grams.
To make a 1 M (1 molar) solution, weigh 342
grams and bring up to 1 L in water.

H2O
H+ can split off from H2O, leaving OH

H2O H+ + OH
Within a liter of water, there is 1 x 10-7 M H+.
Neutral solution = [H+] = [OH-] = 10-7 ; 10-7 x 10-7
= 10-14
pH is the negative logarithm (base 10) of [H+],
ex. neutral [H+] = 1/10,000,000 M of H+ per L =
10-7 M = -log 10-7 = -(-7) = 7

Acids & bases

Acids release H+, ex. HCl

Bases accept H+, ex. NH3 NH4 or reduce H+ by

releasing OH-, ex. NaOH
Example: an acid solution, such as [H+] = 10-5 ,
then [OH-] = 10-9 , since acids remove OHif [H+] = [-OH], water is neutral
if [H+] > [-OH], water is acidic
if [H+] < [-OH], water is basic

pH Scale
pH scale
how acidic or basic a
solution is
The pH scale ranges
from 0 to 14.

Practice:
What is the M of H+ of grapes that has a pH of 4?
How much more acidic is vinegar than grapes?
How much more acidic is lemon than eggs?

Buffers & cellular regulation

pH of cells must be kept ~7
pH affects the shape of molecules
The shape of molecules affects their function
So, pH can affect cellular function by
interfering with molecular function
Control pH with buffers
reservoir of compounds that can
donate H+ when [H+] falls
absorb H+ when [H+] rises

Example: buffers in the blood

pH of human blood is 7.4
Drops to 7.0 or increases to 7.8 are
lethal after even a few minutes
Blood maintains pH using these
compounds:
Bicarbonate HCO3- accepts --> H2CO3
Carbonic acid H2CO3 donates --> HCO3-