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^-#

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

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

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….