Module 5 Intro

Module 5—Acids and Bases

Big Picture

Opening the door of a refrigerator not only reveals many food options, but it also reveals a world of chemistry. In Module 4 you encountered some refrigerator chemistry with the study of gas solubility in soda pop and salt solubility in pickle juice. There is much more chemistry happening in your fridge than just solubility!

Foods, in particular, can be studied in the context of acid-base chemistry, since nearly every item in your fridge contains acidic or basic molecules. An understanding of acid-base chemistry is an essential component of food science.

In this module you will study the experimental and theoretical foundations of acid-base chemistry and learn about how some common food items can be used to demonstrate these principles.