Module 11: Acid/Bases, Neutralization, and Redox Reactions

Acids and bases are two very important compounds. You have dealt with many different types of acids and bases in your daily life. Acids generally taste sour, have a low pH, and change the color of litmus paper. Bases taste bitter, have a high pH, and can also change the color of litmus paper. Acids and bases are measured on the pH scale; this scale runs from zero to fourteen and measures the hydrogen concentration of a substance.

Chemists are responsible for creating medicines, products, and other compounds that make our daily lives easier. One of the very basic processes that helps in their production is the titration. A titration uses an acid to neutralize a base or vice versa. Using the correct laboratory setup, chemists can determine the concentration of an unknown acid or base.

Reactions sometimes involve the transferring of electrons. Whenever a substance loses electrons, another substances gains electrons. These processes are called oxidation and reduction. A redox reaction always includes both processes of oxidation and reduction.

In this module, you will investigate the definitions of acids and bases, how they are measured, and how the pH of a substance is calculated. You will also learn how acids are named. You will continue your study by learning about neutralization and how to run a titration. Finally, you will explore the processes of oxidation and reduction in order to understand redox reactions.

Getting Started

Acids and bases play a role in our everyday life. Some of the uses for these compounds may actually surprise you. Did you know that acids are used to help clean your teeth? Toothpaste is manufactured using sulfuric acid. What other uses do acids and bases have in your life? It may help to explore your house looking at different products.

 

Key Vocabulary

To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.

acid	hydronium	pH Scale
Arrhenius Theory	hydroxide	redox reaction
base	litmus paper	reduction
binary acids	neutralization	salt
Bronsted-Lowry Definition	organic acids	titrant
dissociate	oxidation	titration
end point	oxidation numbers	titration curve
equivalence point	oxoacids