ABC - Acid and Base Chemistry Module Overview

Acids and Bases

Introduction

When discussing the properties of acids and bases, many people think of these substances as being highly corrosive and dangerous.  While this can certainly be true for many such compounds, there also several examples that are encountered in everyday life that are quite beneficial. For example, aspirin, a common pain reliever, and amino acids, which are either useful or completely essential compounds for the human body, fall into the category of acids. Likewise, household ammonia, NH₃, and novocaine, a local anesthetic, are common examples of substances that behave as bases.

So, what properties must a substance contain in order to be considered an acid? A base? In this module, the principles of chemical equilibrium will be applied to this class of substances because they provide yet another specific example of chemical equilibrium. In an earlier module, acids, and bases were discussed in terms of a neutralization reaction; however, this module will more intensely focus on the properties of both acids and bases that occur when they are placed into aqueous solution.  

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

Acid/Base Models

The pH Scale and the Autoionization of Water

Weak Acids and pH

Weak Bases and pH

Hydrolysis Reactions and pH

Chemical Structure and Its Relation to Acid Strength

Buffers

Strong Acid/Base Titrations

Weak Acid/Base Titrations

Titration Curves and Indicators

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