Module 8
1. Module 8
1.2. In this Module
Module 8—Acid-Base Equilibrium
In This Module
Lesson 1—Introduction to the Equilibrium of Acids and Bases
In Lesson 1 you will be introduced to the equilibrium of acids and bases and the equilibrium of water. You will revisit the concepts of the hydronium ion and of the acidic particle. You will also recall how hydronium ions are formed in aqueous solutions and are believed to be responsible for the properties of acidic solutions.
You will investigate the following lesson questions:
- What is the hydronium ion and how does it account for the properties of acidic solutions?
- What chemical components are part of the equilibrium of water?
- How does the equilibrium of water affect the calculation of pH?
Lesson 2—Acid Strength and Equilibrium
Acids can be classified as either strong acids or weak acids. In Lesson 2 you will apply your understanding of equilibrium to investigate the strength of acids.
You will investigate the following lesson question:
- How is knowledge of equilibrium used to explain the differences in acid strength?
Lesson 3—Brønsted-Lowry Theory
In Lesson 3 you will learn about the development of the Brønsted-Lowry theory. The Brønsted-Lowry theory explains the chemical behaviour of acids and bases.
You will investigate the following lesson questions:
- What occurs during a chemical reaction between an acid and a base?
- How does the Brønsted-Lowry theory support what is known about the equilibrium of aqueous acids and bases?
- How do conjugate acid-base pairs represent an equilibrium system?
Lesson 4—Predicting AB Equilibrium
In Lesson 4 you will test a method to predict the equilibrium position for acid-base reactions.
You will investigate the following lesson question:
- How is knowledge of the equilibrium of aqueous systems involved in predicting the outcome of acid-base reactions?
Lesson 5—Equilibrium Law and the Strength of Acids and Bases
In Lesson 5 you will investigate the use of quantitative techniques to describe the equilibrium of aqueous acids and bases.
You will investigate the following lesson questions:
- What are Ka, Kb, and Kw?
- How do Ka and Kb explain the position of the equilibrium of aqueous acids and bases?
- How are values for Ka and Kb used to calculate the pH of solutions containing weak acids and bases?
Lesson 6—pH Curves
In Lesson 6 you will review acid-base titrations, and you will investigate the parts of a pH curve that demonstrate behaviour as equilibrium systems. You will also learn about acidic and basic substances that can react multiple times and how this process appears on a pH curve.
You will investigate the following lesson questions:
- What information about acids and bases and their equilibrium is contained on a titration curve?
- What events occur in the reaction of polyprotic acids and bases?
Lesson 7—Buffers
In Lesson 7 you will investigate the properties of buffers as equilibrium systems.
You will investigate the following lesson questions:
- What is a buffer and how does a buffer exhibit the characteristics of an equilibrium system?
- What is buffering capacity?