Advanced Organic Chemistry

1

Concept of Acids and Bases

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this chapter you should be familiar with

• Why some molecules are acidic and others basic. Why some acids are strong and others weak.
• Why some bases are strong and others weak.
• Estimating acidity and basicity using pH and pK_a. Structure and equilibria in proton transfer reactions.
• Which protons in more complex molecules are more acidic and which lone pairs in more complex molecules are more basic.
• The effects of structure and medium on the strength of acids and bases. The levelling effects.
• Making reactions selective using acids and bases.

1.1 INTRODUCTION

In the mid-19th century, the German chemist Justus von Liebig commented that the wealth of a nation could be gauged by the amount ...