Reason For Learning
Equilibria involving acids and bases are a key feature of the Chemistry syllabus. The key knowledge required is pH as a measure of strength of acids and bases. Kw and Ka for weak acids.
Learning Intention
After completing this learning bite you should be able to:
write an expression for the ionisation constant of water.
explain the difference between acidic, basic, and neutral solutions in terms of the relative concentrations of Hydronium and Hydroxide ions.
define pH as a measure of acidity and be able to perform calculations involving pH.
describe the effect of temperature on the pH of water.
write an expression for the acidity constant of an acid and be able to perform calculations involving Ka's.
describe the function of a buffer.
Key Vocabulary Terms