Table of Contents

An introduction to acids and bases: ......................................................................... 2

pH = -log[H3O+] .......................................................................................................... 2

pOH = -log[OH-] .......................................................................................................... 2

pH + pOH = 14.00 ........................................................................................................ 3

Hydrofluoric Acid ..................................................................................................... 6

Synthesis:................................................................................................................... 7

CaF + H SO 2HF + CaSO ................................................................ 7

2 2 4 > 4

Structure .................................................................................................................... 8

(look chem, molecular structure) ............................................................................. 8

Different concentration levels (more concentration to less). .................................. 9

Acidity ...................................................................................................................... 11

HF + H2O H3O+ + F ........................................................................................... 11

3 HF H2F+ + FHF............................................................................................... 11

Safety and Hazards: ................................................................................................ 12

Production in Nature: ............................................................................................. 12

Uses: ........................................................................................................................ 14
An introduction to acids and bases:
Acids and bases can be defined with three different theories. The Arrhenius theory, states

that acids release hydrogen (H+) ions when dissolved in water while bases are compounds that

releases OH- ions when they are dissolved in this substance. (Arrhemius Concept of Acids and

Bases, 2017.) The Bronsted-Lowry theory attempts to use protons to determine whether a

substance is an acid or a base. According to this theory, if a substance can donate a proton, it is an

acid, while substances that can accept protons are bases. (Bronsted-Lowry acid base theory,)

Finally, according to the Lewis theory, acids are substances that can accept a pair of electrons from

an OH- ion, while bases can accept a pair of electrons from an OH- ion. (The Lewis Definition of

Acids and Bases,)

There are some important terms to be used in relation to acids and bases. Amphoteric, which

means a substance that can act as an acid or as a base, while amphitrotic substances can donate and

accept a hydrogen ion (H+, which simply is, a proton.)

Acids and bases, can be classified inside the pH scale. The pH scale goes from 0 to 14 and

chemicals, that are close to 0 are strongly acidic while chemicals close to 14 are basic. When using

this scale, logarithms can be used to determine where a chemical is placed.

Logarithms can be used when the concentration of one of H3o+ of OH- ions is given using the

following formulas:

pH = -log[H3O+]

pOH = -log[OH-]
 pH + pOH = 14.00
The first formula is used to find pH when the concentration of H3O+ ions is given. The

second formula, is used to find out pOH when given the concentration of OH- ions and once pOH is

found, the third formula can be used to easily find pH. As a consequence of this formula, the

concentration of OH- and H3O ions varies by factors of ten as chemicals move through the pH scale

(figure 1). Chemicals further up the pH scale get greater concentrations of OH- ions while

chemicals further down the pH scale get greater concentrations of, H3O+ ions. This relationship can

be represented using the following table:

Figure 1:

(pH and pOH, )

There two more factors concerning acids and bases, which is the concentration of acids and bases

and strong vs. weak acids and bases. The formula for concentration of acids and bases is moles of

solute (the acid or the base) over moles of solution (the solute plus the solvent). Therefore, acids

and bases are concentrated when they have a low solvent is high. Strong and weak acids and bases

are determined through a completely different process than the concentration. Strong acids are those

that completely disassociate in water producing H+ ions, while strong bases are those that

completely disassociate in water and produce OH- ions.

Hydrofluoric Acid

Characteristics:
1. Chemical Formula: HF or FH

2. Elements: Hydrogen, fluoride (dissolved in water, which is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.)

3. Molecular Weight: 20.006 g/mol

4. State: Colorless gas; strong odor. Liquid (when dissolved in water.)

5. Water solubility: Very soluble in water

6. Boiling Point: 83C according to the Oxford University Chemical Safety Data

7. Melting Point: 19 C

8. Corrosivity: Corrosive to metals.

9. Highly reactive to metals, rubber, concrete, class, and ceramics.

10. Density: 1.15 g/mL (for 48% soln.)

11. Acidity (pKa): 3.17

12. Non-flamable

(Hydrofluoric acid,) (Hydrofluoric acid)

Synthesis:

CaF2 + H2SO4 >

2HF + CaSO4

Hydrogen fluoride is produced when fluorospar reacts with sulfuric acid, producing CaSO4

as a byproduct. Hydrogen fluoride must then be isolated through distillation. In order to produce

hydrofluoric acid, hydrogen fluoride must then be dissolved in water. (Hydrofluoric acid.)

There is also another form of production. It is also a byproduct of phosphoric acid production,

which comes from a mineral apatite, this apetites mostly contain a small percentage of fluoroapetite.

The acidic digestion releases a continuous gas of sulfur dioxide from the H2SO4, water, and HF, as

particulates. Then the solids are separated and the gases are treated with sulfuric acid and oleum to

have anhydrous HF. The corrosive nature of Hydrofluoric Acid production is by the dissolution of

silicate minerals, in this way significant amounts of fluorosilicic acid are generated.
Structure

(Wikipedia image, hydrofluoric acid)

(look chem, molecular structure)

(colourbox, Hydrogen Flouride)

Different concentration levels (more
concentration to less).

(look Chem, Molecular Structure hydrofluoric acid)

(look Chem, Molecular Structure hydrofluoric acid)

(look Chem, Molecular Structure hydrofluoric acid)

(look Chem, Molecular Structure hydrofluoric acid)

Acidity
Hydrofluoric Acid is a weak acid compared to strong acids because it ionizes in aqueous solutions

as many other common acids (it does not fully ionize in dilute solutions).

HF + H2O H3O+ + F

But when the concentration of HF reaches a 100% then its acidity increases because of

homoassociation. This bifluoride anion is a very strong hydrogen bond.

+
3HF H2F + FHF

Its acidity resembles in many different places in the spectrum. This is because of the concentration

levels. When the concentration increases its acidity also increases, when it reaches 100%

concentration it has the boost shown above.

Safety and Hazards:
It is very powerful as a poison. When inhaled as a gas, it damages lungs and harms the eyes.

As a solution, it becomes a contact poison and can cause burns and eventual tissue death. More

importantly, it interferes with the metabolism of calcium. Therefore, when it is exposed to human

skin in areas larger than 160 cm2, hydrogen fluoride can cause cardiac arrest and eventual death.

Hydrofluoric acid because its high corrosively, it has the ability of breaking into tissue and poison

(Hydrofluoric Acid is poisonous to any touch) skin, blood and internal/external organs. Symptoms

sometimes may not appear instantly evident. One big problem with Hydrofluoric Acid is its effects

on nerves, by damaging them, may cause not to feel pain right away. These pain signals are highly

important because they alert where the burn is located, its severity and speeds the medical

treatment but with no pain, the medical treatment is delayed and cant be located where the acid

went through.

Hydrofluoric acid is sometimes treated with calcium gluconate, a source of Ca2+, that gets the

Fluoride ions. HF burns may be treated with a wash of water and 2.5% calcium gluconate gel or

special solutions. But because it is absorbed rising off it is not enough, you do need to see a doctor.

Intra-arterial infusions of calcium chloride have also great effectiveness in treating burns.

(Hydrogen fluoride/hydrofluic acid, 30,6,17)

(Wikipedia hydrofluoric acid image, 30/6/17)

(Wikipedia hydrofluoric acid image, 30/6/17)

Production in Nature:
Hydrogen fluoride may occur in nature. It is released, from sources like coal, clay, and

minerals when they are heated to high temperatures. Therefore, processes that involve high

temperatures, such as the explosion of a volcano, can create hydrogen fluoride. However, because

these processes are relatively infrequent in earths crust, hydrogen fluoride does not reach humans,

most of the time. However, people with jobs like miners, who are exposed to these substances and

may expose them to high temperatures, need to be careful because they are usually more exposed to

hydrogen fluoride. (Public Health Statement for Fluorides, Hydrogen Fluoride, and Fluorine,

2003). For it to become an acid it is dissolved in water.

Uses:
It has many uses; however, its most important uses lie in industry, mainly in producing other

goods. According to Brown University, it can be used to etch semiconductors, process rare metals,

purify quartz and uranium, produce aluminum, produce drugs and dyes, tan leather, clean and pickle

metals, and identify minerals, among others. Additionally, it can also be used to produce

propellants, solvents, and insecticides. It is also used in oil refining in a process called alkylation,

that is a complex process, in a two-phase reaction. Also, the production of organofluorine

compounds. In Chemistry HF is used as the source often times. The production of Fluorides also

uses Hydrofluoric acid to form compounds like Uranium Hexafluoride. Finally, it is also used as an

Etchant and cleaning agent. Hydrofluoric Acid is used to remove oxides and other impurities of

metals as stainless and carbon steels. It is also a component of Wright Etch and buffered oxide etch

as a semiconductor. Wright Etch and buffered oxide etch are used to clean silicon wafers, it is used

to polish and frost glass. In car washes a dilute of hydrofluoric acid is used to clean wheels because

its ability to dissolve iron oxides.

SiO + 4 HF SiF (g) + 2 H O

2 4 2
SiO + 6 HF H SiF + 2 H O
2 2 6 2
Other applications are in petroleum a diluted hydrofluoric acid, to clean glass and take glasses

sickness, to remove unwanted images in printing plates and dissolving rocks. (Hydrofluoric acid).
References
Arrhenius Concept of Acids and Bases. (2017, February 13). Retrieved May 28, 2017, from

https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry/Acids_and_Bases/Acid/Arrh

enius_Concept_of_Acids_and_Bases

Brnsted-Lowry acid base theory. Retrieved May 28, 2017, from

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/chemistry/acids-and-bases-topic/acids-and-bases/a/bronsted-

lowry-acid-base-theory

Hydrofluoric Acid. Retrieved May 29, 2017, from

www.brown.edu/Administration/EHS/lab/hfacid.pps

HYDROFLUORIC ACID. Retrieved May 29, 2017, from

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/hydrofluoric_acid#section=Top

Public Health Statement for Flourides, Hydrogen Fluoride, and Fluorine. (2015, January 21).

Retrieved May 29, 2017, from https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=210&tid=38

The Lewis Theory of Acids and Bases. Retrieved May 28, 2017, from

http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch11/lewis.php

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (2016, April 11). Retrieved

May 31, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0334.html

HYDROGEN FLUORIDE/ HYDROFLUORIC ACID: Systemic Agent. (2015, June 01). Retrieved

May 31, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/EmergencyResponseCard_29750030.html

Harris, D. C. (2003). Quantitative chemical analysis. New York: W.H. Freeman and Co.