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89 Introduction

Chapter Outline

90. Ionic Compounds in Aqueous Solution

91. Brønsted-Lowry Acids and Bases

92. pH and pOH

93. Relative Strengths of Acids and Bases: ionization constants.

94. Relative Strengths of Acids and Bases: effect of molecular structure

95. Hydrolysis of Salt Solutions

96. Polyprotic Acids

97. Buffers

98. Acid-Base Titrations

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 89.1) 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.

A photograph is shown of a pond formed in a sinkhole. Layers of limestone with trees and shrubs surround the murky green water of the pond.

FIGURE 89-1:  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)

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Introduction Copyright © by J. Hollett; D. Latimer; and D. Vanderwel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.