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Unit 8: Acids and Bases

7 dot points across 7 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What happens when acids and bases react, and how does a buffer resist changes in pH?

Topic 8.4 Acid-Base Reactions and Buffers: predict the products of acid-base reactions, identify the salts formed, and explain how a buffer made from a weak acid and its conjugate base resists pH change.
A focused answer to AP Chemistry Topic 8.4, covering neutralisation reactions and the salts produced, the composition of a buffer, and how a buffer of a weak acid and its conjugate base resists pH change, with full worked examples.
10 min answer →

How does a titration curve reveal the equivalence point, the pH at key points, and the pKa of a weak acid?

Topic 8.5 Acid-Base Titrations: interpret titration curves to find the equivalence point and pH at key points, and use the half-equivalence point to find pKa for a weak acid.
A focused answer to AP Chemistry Topic 8.5, covering titration curves for strong and weak acids and bases, the equivalence point, the half-equivalence point where pH equals pKa, the buffer region, and choosing an indicator, with full worked examples.
11 min answer →

What is the Bronsted-Lowry model of acids and bases, and how does it identify conjugate pairs?

Topic 8.1 Introduction to Acids and Bases: identify Bronsted-Lowry acids, bases and conjugate acid-base pairs, and distinguish strong from weak acids and bases.
A focused answer to AP Chemistry Topic 8.1, covering the Bronsted-Lowry definitions of acids and bases, conjugate acid-base pairs, amphoteric species, and the distinction between strong and weak acids and bases, with full worked examples.
9 min answer →

How does molecular structure determine the relative strength of an acid?

Topic 8.6 Molecular Structure of Acids and Bases: explain trends in acid strength in terms of bond strength, bond polarity, electronegativity and the stability of the conjugate base.
A focused answer to AP Chemistry Topic 8.6, covering how bond strength, bond polarity, electronegativity and conjugate-base stability determine acid strength, including binary acids, oxoacids and the inductive effect, with full worked examples.
10 min answer →

How does the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relate the pH of a buffer to the pKa and the ratio of conjugate base to acid?

Topic 8.7 pH and pKa: use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation to relate the pH of a buffer to the pKa and the ratio of conjugate base to weak acid, and explain buffer capacity.
A focused answer to AP Chemistry Topic 8.7, covering the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, how the pH of a buffer relates to the pKa and the conjugate-base-to-acid ratio, how to design a buffer, and buffer capacity, with full worked examples.
11 min answer →

How are pH and pOH defined and calculated for strong acids and bases, and how do they relate through the water equilibrium?

Topic 8.2 pH and pOH of Strong Acids and Bases: calculate pH and pOH from concentration for strong acids and bases, using the autoionisation of water and the relationship pH plus pOH equals 14 at 25 degrees Celsius.
A focused answer to AP Chemistry Topic 8.2, covering the definitions of pH and pOH, the autoionisation of water and Kw, the relationship pH plus pOH equals 14 at 25 degrees Celsius, and calculating pH for strong acids and bases, with full worked examples.
10 min answer →

How do we calculate the pH and percent ionization of a weak acid or base using Ka or Kb?

Topic 8.3 Weak Acid and Base Equilibria: use Ka or Kb with an ICE table to calculate the pH and percent ionization of a weak acid or base, and relate Ka, Kb and Kw.
A focused answer to AP Chemistry Topic 8.3, covering the acid and base ionization constants Ka and Kb, ICE-table calculations of pH and percent ionization for weak acids and bases, and the relationship Ka times Kb equals Kw, with full worked examples.
11 min answer →