Introduction (Chapter 14)

Acid-Base Equilibria

Figure 14.1 Sinkholes such as this are the result of reactions between acidic groundwaters and basic rock formations, like limestone. (credit: modification of work by Emil Kehnel)

Chapter Outline

• 14.1 Brønsted-Lowry Acids and Bases
• 14.2 pH and pOH
• 14.3 Relative Strengths of Acids and Bases
• 14.4 Hydrolysis of Salts
• 14.5 Polyprotic Acids
• 14.6 Buffers
• 14.7 Acid-Base Titrations

Introduction

Liquid water is essential to life on our planet, and chemistry involving the characteristic ions of water, H⁺ and OH⁻, is widely encountered in nature and society. As introduced in another chapter of this text, acid-base chemistry involves the transfer of hydrogen ions from donors (acids) to acceptors (bases). These H⁺ transfer reactions are reversible, and the equilibria established by acid-base systems are essential aspects of phenomena ranging from sinkhole formation (Figure 14.1) to oxygen transport in the human body. This chapter will further explore acid-base chemistry with an emphasis on the equilibrium aspects of this important reaction class.