The goal of this assignment is explore the concepts of acids and bases. Acids and bases permeate our lives in many unseen ways, and learning about the pH scale, equilibria, and the interactions of acids and bases together can help us understand our lives. We shall look at several acid and base theories to see how they apply to our systems.

Chapter 16 introduces us to the concept of acids and bases. Although we briefly discussed acids earlier in CH 221, we will now be able to apply our understanding of equilibrium to acids and bases to see if a particular acid or base is strong or weak. The acid dissociation constant, K_a, and the base dissociation constant, K_b, will help us understand the strength of the species. We will look again at pH in addition to other "pX" scales (such as pOH, pK_a, pK_b, etc.) We will also look at acids and bases reacting together and how to calculate the resulting pH of the mixture. We shall also look at the important concepts of Lewis acids and bases to see how acid base theory can be extended to almost any type of reaction.

For a complete list of important concepts, see the Chapter 16 Study Guide.

To understand the concepts behind acids and bases, you should read Chapter 16 in your textbook.

The following screencasts might prove useful to you as you study this chapter. Note that you must have Quicktime installed to watch these screencasts.

• An Introduction to Acids and Bases
• Measuring Acid and Base Concentrations / the pH Scale
• K_a, K_b and Acid/Base Strength
• Equilibrium Calculations with Weak Acids or Weak Bases
• Lewis Acids and Bases

The Chapter Sixteen PowerPoint lecture notes which accompany this section will be helpful to you when going through the material. These are Web versions of the PowerPoint notes I use in my "normal" CH 223 class and should let you see what is important to me in this chapter.

A handout on acids and bases is available from Chapter Sixteen. Feel free to explore its contents.

• Bronsted Acids and Bases

• Simulation: Autoionization
• Simulation: The pH Scale
• Exercise: Bronsted Acids-Base Reactions
• Acids and Bases
• Tutor: Bronsted Acids and Bases
• Tutor: The pH Scale
• Tutor: Determining K_a and K_b Values
• Tutor: Estimating the pH of Weak Acid Solutions
• Tutor: Estimating the pH of Weak Base Solutions
• Simulation: Hydrolysis
• Exercise: Lewis Acids and Bases
• Tutor: Lewis Acids and Bases
• Tutor: Neutral Lewis Acids
• Exercise: Neutral Lewis Acids

These interactive exercises from W.W. Norton and Company (ChemTours) might prove useful as well:

• Acid-Base Ionization
• Acid Strength and Molecular Structure
• pH Scale
• Self-Ionization of Water

Once you have mastered the concepts listed above, check out the Chapter Sixteen Concept Guide for a series of worked problems relating to this chapter. They will help you to ensure the mastery of the knowledge from this chapter.

Finally, test yourself (and get extra-credit in the bargain!) on the following chemistry concepts. Remember that you must have JavaScript enabled on your browser! If you get 9 out of 10 correct (or some multiple thereof), submit the information to me to receive extra credit.

1. Identifying Acids and Bases
2. pA, pB, A and B
3. pH, pOH, [H⁺], [OH^-]
4. More pH Relationships
5. pH of Weak Acid Solutions
6. Solutions of Acids and Bases
7. Calculating K for Acid-Base Reactions

Feel free to explore and discuss the ideas from this chapter with the class. Acids and bases affect us every day through the food we eat, the drugs we ingest, the cleaners we apply, and much more. Take time to share your thoughts with the class on Discus regarding your impressions of these concepts and as how they relate to your life.

Please complete problem set #2 to further explore acid and base concepts. Problem set #2 covers several questions from Chapter 16, and it can be found here. We will discuss problems like these during recitation, so come prepared to ask and answer questions.

For additional practice, try the non-assigned problems in Chapter 16. Answers to many of those problems are listed in the back of your textbook or in the Chapter Sixteen Student Solutions Manual.

If you need assistance on these problems, you have several options. You can visit the Learning Success Center located above the MHCC library on the Mt. Hood Community College campus; they have tutors available to help you with your chemistry homework. You can also contact me if you have any questions.