Acids, Bases & Salts — 9 Terms Defined

Base Acids, Bases & Salts Dimensionless A substance that accepts protons, produces hydroxide ions in water, or donates a pair of electrons. B + H⁺ → BH⁺

Base Dissociation Constant Acids, Bases & Salts mol/L The equilibrium constant for the reaction of a base with water to produce hydroxide ions. Kb = [BH⁺][OH⁻] / [B]

Basic Buffer Acids, Bases & Salts Dimensionless A buffer made from a weak base and one of its salts, giving a pH above 7. pOH = pKb + log([salt]/[base])

Basic Salt Acids, Bases & Salts Dimensionless A salt whose aqueous solution has a pH above 7, or one that retains a hydroxide group.

Basic Solution Acids, Bases & Salts mol/L A solution in which the hydroxide ion concentration exceeds the hydrogen ion concentration. [OH⁻] > [H⁺]

Brønsted–Lowry Theory Acids, Bases & Salts Dimensionless The theory defining an acid as a proton donor and a base as a proton acceptor. HA + B ⇌ A⁻ + BH⁺

Buffer Capacity Acids, Bases & Salts mol/L The amount of strong acid or base a buffer can absorb before its pH changes appreciably. β = dn / d(pH)

Buffer Range Acids, Bases & Salts Dimensionless The span of pH values over which a buffer works effectively, conventionally one unit either side of its pKa. pH = pKa ± 1

Buffer Solution Acids, Bases & Salts Dimensionless A solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.