ABSTRACT
Chapter 5, Section 5.4) • Ka and pKa (Chapter 2, Section 2.4) • factors that influence the equilibrium constant Ka in an acid-
base reaction (Chapter 2, Section 2.4) • what constitutes a strong acid, strong base, weak acid, and weak
base (Chapter 2, Section 2.4) • what electron release and electron donation are (Chapter 3,
Section 3.7) • what an inductive effect is (Chapter 3, Section 3.7) • the definitions of a Lewis acid and a Lewis base (Chapter 2,
Section 2.5) • structures and names of functional groups (Chapter 4; Chapter 5,
Sections 5.6 and 5.9) • acid-base properties of functional groups (Chapter 5, Section 5.7) • what resonance is (Chapter 5, Section 5.9.3)
This chapter will introduce organic acids and organic bases. The correlation of fundamental acid-base properties to common organic molecules and to common organic reactions will be explained. Electronic effects, the influence of bond strength, resonance, and stability of products will be defined in the context of acid-base reactions. Organic Lewis bases are discussed, as are the concepts of nucleophile and electrophile. Carboxylic acids, alcohols, etc. are Brønsted-Lowry acids, so the equilibrium associated with these acids must be examined. Two generic types of protonic acids will be highlighted: those bearing an X-H acidic moiety (where X = O, S, N) and those bearing a C-H acidic moiety (usually very weak acids). After this initial discussion, classical Lewis acids and bases are examined.
