http://www.ck12.org Chapter 21. Acids and Bases
CHAPTER
(^21) Acids and Bases
Chapter Outline
21.1 ACID-BASEDEFINITIONS
21.2 The pH Concept
21.3 ACID ANDBASESTRENGTH
21.4 ACID-BASENEUTRALIZATION
21.5 SALTSOLUTIONS
21.6 REFERENCES
If you have ever kept an aquarium, you may know that the pH of the water in the aquarium is very important. Most
fish are very sensitive to the pH, and it must be monitored and controlled so that they stay healthy. What exactly
does pH measure? The pH of a solution is a measure of its acidity. Acids and bases are very common substances
that you encounter every day, from citrus fruits and other foods to soaps and cleaners. In many ways, you can think
of acids and bases as being the opposite of one another. If a certain solution is highly acidic, its basicity is low.
Conversely, a basic solution has a low acidity. The pH scale is a convenient way to keep track of how acidic or basic
a given solution is. Environmental scientists, like the one in the image above, test the pH of natural bodies of water
on a regular basis. If the pH is not within an ideal range, certain treatments may have to be considered so that the
water can remain hospitable to the plants and animals that call it home. In this chapter, you will learn all about the
chemistry of acids and bases.
Image co pyright Shawn Hem pel, 2014 .www.shutterstock.com.U sed under license f rom Shutterstock.com.