Thermodynamics
Acids and Bases + Buffers
Organic Chemistry
100

Consider the following reaction: 

 NH3 = N2 + H2  ∆H = 30.1 kJ/mol

Which way will the reaction proceed if there is an increase in pressure? What about an increase in temperature?


2 NH3 = N2 + 3 H2

An increase in temperature will cause the reaction to proceed right towards products.

An increase in temperature would cause the reaction to proceed right towards products.

100

What is the biochemical standard state?

pH 7

298 K/25°C

1M of all species

100

What is a characteristic of a "high energy" bond?

They have a high negative ∆G for breakage under biological conditions
200

Consider the following reaction:

6 CO2 + 6 H2O = C6H12O6 + 6O2. ∆G = 5 kJ/mol

Will this reaction proceed spontaneously. If not, what would make it proceed spontaneously? Give an example.

No, it cannot proceed on its own since it has a positive ∆G and thus it would need to be coupled with another reaction that is spontaneous in order to yield a net negative ∆G. An example of a reaction that could suffice would be ATP hydrolysis.

200

Consider the following two acids:

Acid A: Ka = 6E3

Acid B: Ka = 2

What are the pKas and which acid is the stronger acid?

Acid A: pKa = -log(6E3) = -3.77815

Acid B: pKa = -log(2) = -0.30103

Acid A is the stronger acid

200

What functional groups are these?

1. Ether

2. Amine

3. Carboxylic Acid

4. Ester

300

Keq' = 6 x 10-5 and ∆G = 5 x 10-12 J/mol

Which way will the reaction proceed?

Hint: ?

Keq = e-∆G°/RT

6x10-5 = e-∆G°/8.314(298)

∆G° = 24084.9 J/mol

∆G = ∆G° + RTlnQ

5x10-12 = 24084.9 + 8.314(298)lnQ

Q = 6 x 10-5

The reaction is already at equilibrium!



300

We want to work at a pH of 7.5 at 25°C. Which buffer would work best?

TEA: pka = 7.80

Trizma: pka = 8.06

TAPSO: pka = 7.6

TAPSO

300

DOUBLE JEOPARDY! - Surprise Thermodynamics

Without doing a calculation...

∆H = -5 J/mol

∆S = -2 J/K

T = -250 K

Is this reaction spontaneous?

Yes, but only because this is at a very low temperature

400

Consider the following reactions:

2 NH3 = NH2 + 3H2   Keq'=.2

NADH = NAD+ + H+   Keq'=10.8

What is the ∆G°'? Is the reaction spontaneous?

Net Keq' = (.2)(10.8) = 2.16

Keq' = e-∆G°'/RT

2.16 = e-∆G°'/8.314(298)

∆G°' = -1907.999 J/mol

The reaction is spontaneous under standard conditions

400

This molecule has a pKa of around 10.07. Draw its dominant form at pH 4 and pH 12. The molecule shown is at pH 7.


At pH 4, the molecule still has its hydroxide protonated.

At pH 12, the hydroxide has been deprotonated.

400

Which carbon is more likely to be electrophilic?

The carbonyl carbon

500

You have 300.26 moles of CH3COOH (MM = 60.052 amu), .002M CH3COO- and .05M H3O+. Is the reaction at equilibrium? If not, which side is favored? Find the final concentrations of all species and ∆G at equilibrium.

CH3COOH + H2O = CH3COO- + H3O+ 

Keq' = 1.75E-5

CH3COOH + H2O = CH3COO- + H3O+

5 M                            .002M        .05M

-x                                +x              +x

5 - x                          .002+x     .05+x

((.05+x)(.002+x))/(5-x) = 1.75E-5

x = .005

Final Concentrations:

CH3COOH = 4.995 M

CH3COO- = .007 M

H3O+ = .055 M

∆G = ∆G°' = -RTlnQ

= -8.314 (298)ln(1.75E-5)

= -.04335751 J/mol

500

Molecule A has a pKa of 4. What is the percentage of Molecule A's conjugate acid and base at a hydroxide concentration of 1E-7M? Which is the predominant species?

pOH = -log (1E-7) = 7

14 = pH + 7

pH = 7

pH = pKa + log (A-/HA)

7 = 4 + log (A-/HA)

3 = log (A-/HA)

A-/HA = 1000/1

A- = 1000/1001 * 100 = 99%

HA = 1/1001 * 100 = .099%

Conjugate base is the predominant species.

500

Which molecule is acting as an acid? As a base? As an electrophile? As a nucleophile?

His 12 is acting as a base

The deprotonated oxygen is the nucleophile

The phosphate is the electrophile

His 119 is acting as an acid