Lecture No 2 Water and Its Properties October 2019

LEVY MWANAWASA
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY
MCT 221
2019
PROPERTIES OF WATER
WATER AS A REACTANT
LECTURE NO 2
2019
Water as a reactant?
Water has the ability to dissociate to form

hydrogen ion and hydroxide ions.
However the extent of dissociation is very small.
This slight tendency to dissociate is a reversible

ionization process which may be represented as:
H2O H+ + OH-
This reversible ionization is important in cellular

function
The position of equilibrium for any chemical reaction

is given by its equilibrium constant, given by
. Keq = [H+][OH-]
H2O
In pure water at 25°C, the concentration of water is
55.5 M (grams of H2O in 1L divided by its gram
molecular weight) and is essentially constant because
of the low concentrations of H+ and OH-.
Substituting 55.5M in the equilibrium constant
expression gives
Keq = [H+][OH-]
55.5M
The value of Keq of pure water at 25° is 1.8X10-16 M
. Keq [H2O] = [H+][OH-]
1.8X10-16 M x 55.5M=[H+][OH-]
1.0X10-14 M2=[H+][OH-]
This is called ionic product of water given by
Kw= [H+][OH-]=1.0 X 10-14 M2

Since in pure water there are exactly equal

concentrations of both H+ and OH-.
The concentration of H+ and OH- can be calculated
from the ion product of water thus
Kw =[H+][OH-] = [H+]2 since =[H+]=[OH-
This reduces to
H+] = Kw = [H+] = [OH-] =10-7
This reduces to [H+] = [OH-] =10-7

pH Expressing hydrogen
concentration as pH Scale
Hydrogen and hydroxide concentration are very

small and user friendly.
To make them user friendly a pH scale was devised.
Therefore pH is just a convenient way of expressing

the concentration of H+( also of OH-) in an
aqueous solution.
It is defined as;
1
pH= log [H + ] = - log [H+]
Pure water is Neutral therefore
[ H+] = [OH-]
water is neutral therefore pH = 7.
For an acid solution [H+] > [OH-] hence pH < 7.

For a basic solution [H+] < [OH-] hence pH > 7.
Normal blood pH is range from 7.35 - 7.45
The pH range of human blood ranging from 6.8

-8.0 is compatible with life
Body fluid pH
Some normal pH values

ECF:
-Arterial blood 7.40
- venous blood 7.35
- interstitial Normal pH in body ﬂuid
7.35
ICF 6.0-7.40
Urine 4.5-8.0
Gastric juice 0.8

pH affects the structure and activity of biological

molecules eg enzymes
pH measurements in urine and blood are useful in

medical diagnosis
In patients with uncontrolled diabetes the pH of

the blood plasma is below the normal value of 7.4
i.e. acidosis.
In alkalosis the blood plasma pH is above 7.4

Weak acids and bases
Weak acids and bases do not completely ionized

when dissolved in water
For instance acetic acid dissociates partially to
form acetate ion and hydrogen ions
CH3COOH H+ + CH3COO-
The acetic acid CH3COOH is a proton donor

and acetate ion CH3COO-, its corresponding
proton acceptor make up a conjugate pair.
The stronger the acid and the weaker acid has the
greater the tendency to lose a proton and the weak acid
has the lesser tendency to lose a proton .
The tendency of any acid (HA) to lose a proton and
form its conjugate base (A-) is defined by the
equilibrium constant (dissociation constant) for the
reversible reaction
HA H+ + A-
The acid dissociation constant is given by

ka= [H+][A-]
[HA]
The acid dissociation constant is given by

ka= [H+][A-]
[HA]
-logka=-log [H+][A-]
[HA]
-logka=-log [H+] -log [A-]
[HA]
pka=pH -log [A-]
[HA]
pka=pH -log [A-]

[HA]
Moving the term -log [A-] to the left hand side
[HA]
gives pka +log [A-] =pH
[HA]
This the same as pH = pka +log [A-]
[HA]
This is called Henderson hasselbalch equation
Note that when weak acids and bases dissociates

like when acetic acid dissociates partially it form its
conjugate base in this case acetate ion thus
CH3COOH H+ + CH3COO-
The acetic acid CH3COOH is a acid
Acetate ion CH3COO- is a base.
Such a mixture of a weak acid and it conjugate base

or a mixture of a base and it conjugate acid may act
as a buffer.
What is a buffer?
A buffer is a mixture of a weak acid and it

conjugate base or a mixture of a base and it
conjugate acid that resist change pH of the
environment when small amounts of acid or
base are added to it.
A buffer maintains the pH of the environment
constant.
The pH of the buffer can measured using the
the Henderson hasselbalch equation.
What is a buffer?
Characteristically a chemical buffer acts rapid

and acts within seconds.
Chemical buffer act at cellular level, but is less
effective in severe or chronic cases.
The main examples of chemical buffers used
in the human body include:
Bicarbonate systems
Phosphate
Protein
What are the examples of
extracellular buffers?
Extracellular buffer include :

Carbonic acid/Bicarbonate;
Serum Proteins (albumin);
Ammonia ( in renal tubules);
Carbonic acid/Bicarbonate is the primary
buffer against non-carbonic acid changes.
It is also the strongest and most useful in ECF
intracellular buffers?
Extracellular buffer include :

Hemoglobin
Intracellular proteins
Phosphates
¾ of body’s buffering system from intracellular

proteins and phosphates
intracellular buffers?
Acidosis is a condition in which the blood has too

much acid or too little base, frequently resulting
in a decrease in blood pH.
Alkalosis is a condition in which the blood has
too much base (or too little acid), occasionally
resulting in an increase in blood pH
Alkalosis and acidosis may result in:
Changes in excitability of nerve and muscle cells
Influences enzyme activity
Influences K+ levels
What could be the effect of
alkalosis and acidosis?
Changes in excitability of nerve and muscle cells.

ACIDOSIS
pH decrease OR more acidic environment
depresses the central nervous system.
This may lead to loss of consciousness
ALKALOSIS
pH increase or more basic environment can cause
over-excitability.
This may result in tingling sensations,
nervousness, muscle twitches
Changes in enzyme activity.

Acidosis and Alkalosis
pH increases or decreases can alter the shape of

the enzyme rendering it non-functional.
Changes in enzyme structure can result in

accelerated or depressed metabolic actions within
the cell.
Acidosis or alkalosis may affect K+ levels.

When reabsorbing Na+ from the filtrate of the
renal tubules K+ or H+ is secreted (exchanged).
Normally K+ is secreted in much
greater amounts than H+.
If H+ concentrations are high (acidosis) than H+ is
secreted in greater amounts.
This leaves less K+ than usual excreted.
The resultant K+ retention can affect cardiac
function and other systems.

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LEVY MWANAWASA

 Water has the ability to dissociate to form

 However the extent of dissociation is very small.

 This slight tendency to dissociate is a reversible

 This reversible ionization is important in cellular

 The position of equilibrium for any chemical reaction

 The value of Keq of pure water at 25° is 1.8X10-16 M

. Keq [H2O] = [H+][OH-]

 This is called ionic product of water given by

 Kw= [H+][OH-]=1.0 X 10-14 M2

 Since in pure water there are exactly equal

 Kw =[H+][OH-] = [H+]2 since =[H+]=[OH-

 H+] = Kw = [H+] = [OH-] =10-7

 This reduces to [H+] = [OH-] =10-7

 Hydrogen and hydroxide concentration are very

 To make them user friendly a pH scale was devised.

 Therefore pH is just a convenient way of expressing

 Pure water is Neutral therefore

 water is neutral therefore pH = 7.

 For an acid solution [H+] > [OH-] hence pH < 7.

 The pH range of human blood ranging from 6.8

Some normal pH values

Gastric juice 0.8

 pH affects the structure and activity of biological

 pH measurements in urine and blood are useful in

 In patients with uncontrolled diabetes the pH of

 In alkalosis the blood plasma pH is above 7.4

 Weak acids and bases do not completely ionized

 The acetic acid CH3COOH is a proton donor

 The acid dissociation constant is given by

 The acid dissociation constant is given by

 pka=pH -log [A-]

 Note that when weak acids and bases dissociates

 Such a mixture of a weak acid and it conjugate base

 A buffer is a mixture of a weak acid and it

 Characteristically a chemical buffer acts rapid

 Extracellular buffer include :

 Extracellular buffer include :

 ¾ of body’s buffering system from intracellular

 Acidosis is a condition in which the blood has too

 Changes in excitability of nerve and muscle cells.

 Changes in enzyme activity.

 pH increases or decreases can alter the shape of

 Changes in enzyme structure can result in

 Acidosis or alkalosis may affect K+ levels.

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Water has the ability to dissociate to form

However the extent of dissociation is very small.

This slight tendency to dissociate is a reversible

This reversible ionization is important in cellular

The position of equilibrium for any chemical reaction

The value of Keq of pure water at 25° is 1.8X10-16 M

This is called ionic product of water given by

Kw= [H+][OH-]=1.0 X 10-14 M2

Since in pure water there are exactly equal

Kw =[H+][OH-] = [H+]2 since =[H+]=[OH-

H+] = Kw = [H+] = [OH-] =10-7

This reduces to [H+] = [OH-] =10-7

Hydrogen and hydroxide concentration are very

To make them user friendly a pH scale was devised.

Therefore pH is just a convenient way of expressing

Pure water is Neutral therefore

water is neutral therefore pH = 7.

For an acid solution [H+] > [OH-] hence pH < 7.

The pH range of human blood ranging from 6.8

pH affects the structure and activity of biological

pH measurements in urine and blood are useful in

In patients with uncontrolled diabetes the pH of

In alkalosis the blood plasma pH is above 7.4

Weak acids and bases do not completely ionized

The acetic acid CH3COOH is a proton donor

The acid dissociation constant is given by

The acid dissociation constant is given by

pka=pH -log [A-]

Note that when weak acids and bases dissociates

Such a mixture of a weak acid and it conjugate base

A buffer is a mixture of a weak acid and it

Characteristically a chemical buffer acts rapid

Extracellular buffer include :

Extracellular buffer include :

¾ of body’s buffering system from intracellular

Acidosis is a condition in which the blood has too

Changes in excitability of nerve and muscle cells.

Changes in enzyme activity.

pH increases or decreases can alter the shape of

Changes in enzyme structure can result in

Acidosis or alkalosis may affect K+ levels.