How do you perform acid base reactions?

1 Answer
Jul 4, 2018

Some context is necessary to address the question...

Explanation:

We know that in aqueous solution under standard conditions, the following equilibrium operates...

2H_2O(l)rightleftharpoonsH_3O^+ +HO^-2H2O(l)H3O++HO

And careful measurement has established the extent of this equilibrium...

K_w=[H_3O^+][HO^-]=10^(-14)Kw=[H3O+][HO]=1014...

And thus in aqueous solution, we invoke two quantities, ….

underbrace(H_3O^+)_"the acid",

AND....

.. underbrace(HO^-)_"the base"

Equivalently, we could take logarithms of the expression...

log_10(K_w)=log_10([H_3O^+][HO^-])=log_10(10^(-14))...

And so ….

log_10[H_3O^+]+log_10[HO^-]=-14...else..

+14=underbrace(-log_10[H_3O^+])_"pH"underbrace(-log_10[HO^-])_"+ pOH"

And so...14=pH+pOH...the defining relationship....

I acknowledge that I may not have addressed the question you wanted answered... As to a specific reaction, you may refer to a titration reaction....where a known volume of titrant of known concentration is added to an unknown quantity of acid or base in solution….