Learning Outcomes for Acid/Base Equilibria

Students will be able to...

1. Understand the strength of an acid (or base) as determined by the percent of ionization in solution.
2. Identify strong and weak acids and bases.
3. Identify acid/base conjugate pairs and their relative strengths.
4. Understand the process of auto-ionization of water and what is meant by acidic, basic, and neutral.
5. Know the value of K_w at 25°C, and the relationship between K_a and K_b for a conjugate pair.
6. Convert between hydronium ion concentration, hydroxide ion concentration, pH and pOH for a given solution.
7. Determine the pH of a strong acid or base solution.
8. Determine the pH of a weak acid or weak base solution.
9. Determine the pH of the solution made from the salt of a weak acid or the salt of a weak base.
10. Recognize and predict the components of a buffer solution.
11. Calculate the pH of a buffer solution, and a buffer solution after the addition of strong acid or strong base.
12. Balance a reaction for the neutralization of an acid or base and calculate stoichiometric quantities throughout the reaction (titration).
13. Determine the majority species for acid/base solutions as well as the pH following neutralization.
14. Interpret a titration curve plot including calculating the concentration and K_a or K_b for the analyte.
15. Understand the concept of an acid/base indicator, and determine which indicators are appropriate for a given titration.
16. Determine the protonation state (or overall charge) for a polyprotic species at a particular pH.
17. Apply concepts from equilibria to acid/base problems