Simplified Treatment of Aqueous Ionic Reactions. Application to Acid-Base Problems

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 1 Issue 6 (1997), S1430-4171(97)06077-9

Simplified Treatment of Aqueous Ionic Reactions. Application to Acid-Base Problems

C. Fernandez-Pereira,* M. Alcalde, and J. Vale

E. S. Ingenieros Industriales, Departamento de Ingenieria Quimica y Ambiental, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, E-41012 Sevilla, Spain

Published online: 27 February 1997

Abstract. A simplified study of aqueous ionic reactions that treats them as particle-interchange reactions is presented. Most introductory chemistry courses present these reactions separately, though their joint study is of pedagogical interest, as it is coherent and systematic, and it also provides a more global view of ionic reactions. The particle acceptor potential (AP) of a conjugate donor–acceptor pair is defined and used in a graphical method to solve acid–base problems using predominance diagrams. The AP of a conjugate acid–base pair, which measures its tendency to accept protons, allows comparisons between pairs. A treatment valid not only for acid–base reactions, but also for redox, solubility or complexation reactions, and a strategy aimed at solving practical cases are described and applied to different acid–base problems.

Key Words: In the Classroom; acid-base equilibria; predominance diagrams; graphical method; unified treatment of ionic reactions; particle-interchange equilibria; aqueous chemistry; donor/acceptor pairs

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: pereira@esi.us.es)

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