GREEN TECHNOLOGY (Environmental Science)

SUB Code: CH104

Dr. Aniruddha Paul

DEPARTMENT of CHEMISTRY

02/11/2016
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PATNA 1
UNIT 4: WATER and BIODEGRADATION
pH, Acidity, Alkalinity

And, this we all know:

𝑝𝐻 = −log[𝐻+ ]
where, [H+] = molar concentration of hydrogen ion (H+) in aqueous medium.
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The pH Concept:

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 Now 𝑝𝐻 = − log 𝐻+ = −𝑙𝑜𝑔[𝐻+ ]

M etc

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  pH measurement is done with pH meter (having a glass electrode,
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measuring cell potential as a function of hydrogen ion concn). 5
 Acidity
For strong acids, like HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, the dissociation of acids in aqueous solution is
complete, so
𝐻𝐴 𝑎𝑞 → 𝐻 + 𝑎𝑞 + 𝐴− (𝑎𝑞) (1)

For weak acids, like acetic acid or carbonic acid, the dissociation is partial, leading to
following eqbm
𝐻𝐴 𝑎𝑞 ⇌ 𝐻 + 𝑎𝑞 + 𝐴− (𝑎𝑞) (2)

So, the acid dissociation constant,

𝐻 + [𝐴− ] (3)
𝐾𝑎 =
[𝐻𝐴]
[𝐴− ]
or, 𝑝𝐻 = 𝑝𝐾𝑎 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔 (4)
[𝐻𝐴]

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Dissociation constants for acid with multi-protic acid, e.g., the following tribasic acid has
three ionization (acid dissociation) constants:

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Neutralization of strong acid Neutralization of weak acid

Neutralization of mineral acids is For carbonic acid neutralization, at pH 7.0 considerable

essentially complete at pH 4.0 amount of CO2 remains to be neutralized. It is customary
to consider all waters having a pH less than 8.5 contains
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 pH Scale and Acidity

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(Methyl orange end-point)
CO2 Acidity

𝐶𝑂2 + 𝐻2 𝑂 ⇌ 𝐻2 𝐶𝑂3 ⇌ 𝐻 + + 𝐻𝐶𝑂3−

Also, free CO2 accounts for 99% of the total.

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Q. A typical sample of water contains 61 mg/L of bicarbonate ion and 88 mg/L
carbon dioxide respectively at 25 C. Assuming the first acid dissociation constant
of carbonic acid to be 8 × 10-7 at 25 C, calculate the pH of the water sample.

Stanard/Equivalent way of reporting Acidity (also applicable for Alkalinity, Hardness etc data)

Usually expressed in terms of equivalent amount of mg/L of CaCO3 solution

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 Importance of Acidity Measurement

• Acid waters are of concern because of their corrosive characters incurring

high maintenance cost.
• The corrosive factor is mostly CO2, but some industrial wastes also have high
mineral acidity
• For biological process treatment a narrow pH range 6 – 9.5 is required to
maintain, and so knowing pH of the water source is necessary.
• Combustion of fossil fuels produce NOx and SOx, which lead to acid rain – this
can lead to drastic lowering of pH of natural water sources.

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 Alkalinity

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 (Phenolphthalein
end point)

(Methyl orange/
Bromcresol green
end point)

Titration curve for

Hydroxide-Carbonate
mixture
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 Hydroxide

(Phenolphthalein
end point)

Titration curve for

Hydroxide-Carbonate
mixture
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 (Phenolphthalein
end point)

(Methyl orange/
Bromcresol green
end point)

Titration curve for

Hydroxide-Carbonate
mixture
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pH

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  Hydroxide Alkalinity = Phenolphthalein Alkalinity

 Carbonate Alkalinity = Total Alkalinity

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pH

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 below
𝐶𝑂2 + 𝐻2 𝑂 ⇌ 𝐻2 𝐶𝑂3 ⇌ 𝐻 + + 𝐻𝐶𝑂3−

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 and no photosynthesis.

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 Hardness of Water

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The soil water becomes
highly charged with
CO2, which is in eqbm
with carbonic acid; thus
a low pH condition
develops and salts are
dissolved.

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 Measurement of Hardness

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 *

*The concentration of individual ions can be determined separately by

(A) Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy,
(B) Ion Chromatography
(C) Ion specific electrodes etc.
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• Determining the quality of domestic and industrial supply water
• Gauging the amount of softening required for various applications
etc.
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