Base-Acid Reactions: Sulfate Ions & Nitric Acid

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SUMMARY

Sulfate ions do not react with nitric acid due to the relative strengths of the acids involved. Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is a very strong acid, while nitric acid (HNO3) is significantly weaker, approximately 100 times weaker than sulfuric acid. The conjugate base of sulfuric acid, sulfate ions (HSO4-), is too weak to accept a proton from nitric acid, which leads to the conclusion that weak acids and weak bases typically do not react with each other.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of acid-base theory
  • Knowledge of dissociation constants (pKa values)
  • Familiarity with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3) properties
  • Basic chemistry concepts regarding conjugate acids and bases
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the dissociation constants of sulfuric acid and nitric acid
  • Explore acid-base reaction mechanisms in detail
  • Learn about the properties of conjugate acids and bases
  • Investigate the strength of various acids and their implications in chemical reactions
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Chemistry students, educators, and professionals interested in acid-base reactions and their applications in chemical processes.

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Sulphate ions and nitric acid wouldn’t react? Is it because sulfuric acid is a very strong acid, while nitric acids are very weak. So the conjugate base of sulfuric acid which is sulphate ions is very weak and too weak to accept the proton from a weak acid like nitric acid. When you have a weak base and weak acid, they usually don’t react. Is there a more proper/better way of explaining this?
 
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Nitric acid is not that weak, in fact it is 1000 times stronger than HSO4-, although 100 times weaker than H2SO4 (in terms of dissociations constants).

Borek
 
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