Acids & Bases
Each list begins with basic conceptual vocabulary you need to know for MCAT questions and proceeds to advanced terms that might appear in context in MCAT passages. The terms are links to Wikipedia articles.
Acid
An acid is traditionally considered any chemical compound that, when dissolved in water, gives a solution with a pH less than 7.0.
An acid is traditionally considered any chemical compound that, when dissolved in water, gives a solution with a pH less than 7.0.
Base
A base is most commonly thought of as a substance that can accept protons.
A base is most commonly thought of as a substance that can accept protons.
pH
pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
Strong acid
A strong acid is an acid that dissociates completely in an aqueous solution.
A strong acid is an acid that dissociates completely in an aqueous solution.
Acetic acid
Acetic acid, also known as ethanoic acid, is an organic chemical compound best recognized for giving vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell.
Acetic acid, also known as ethanoic acid, is an organic chemical compound best recognized for giving vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell.
Carboxylic acid
Carboxylic acids are organic acids characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group.
Carboxylic acids are organic acids characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group.
Sodium hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, caustic soda and sodium hydrate, is a caustic metallic base.
Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, caustic soda and sodium hydrate, is a caustic metallic base.
Hydronium
Hydronium is the common name for the cation derived from protonation of water. It is the simplest type of an oxonium ion.
Hydronium is the common name for the cation derived from protonation of water. It is the simplest type of an oxonium ion.
Acid-base reaction
An acid-base reaction is a chemical reaction that occurs between a proton donor and a proton receiver.
An acid-base reaction is a chemical reaction that occurs between a proton donor and a proton receiver.
Lewis base
A Lewis base is any molecule or ion that can form a new coordinate covalent bond, by donating a pair of electrons.
A Lewis base is any molecule or ion that can form a new coordinate covalent bond, by donating a pair of electrons.
Organic base
Amines and nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds are organic bases.
Amines and nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds are organic bases.
Amine
Amines are organic compounds and a type of functional group that contain nitrogen as the key atom. Structurally amines resemble ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by alkyl and aryl groups.
Amines are organic compounds and a type of functional group that contain nitrogen as the key atom. Structurally amines resemble ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by alkyl and aryl groups.
Hydrochloric acid
Hydrochloric acid is the aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride gas.
Hydrochloric acid is the aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride gas.
Lewis acid
A Lewis acid can accept a pair of electrons and form a coordinate covalent bond.
A Lewis acid can accept a pair of electrons and form a coordinate covalent bond.
Weak base
A weak base is a chemical base that does not ionize fully in an aqueous solution
A weak base is a chemical base that does not ionize fully in an aqueous solution
Weak acid
A weak acid is an acid that does not ionize in solution to a significant extent.
A weak acid is an acid that does not ionize in solution to a significant extent.
Alkoxide
An alkoxide is the conjugate base of an alcohol and therefore consists of an organic group bonded to a negatively charged oxygen atom.
An alkoxide is the conjugate base of an alcohol and therefore consists of an organic group bonded to a negatively charged oxygen atom.
Alkali
An alkali is a basic, ionic salt of a group I or group II element.
An alkali is a basic, ionic salt of a group I or group II element.
Sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate is a sodium salt of carbonic acid.
Sodium carbonate is a sodium salt of carbonic acid.
Acid dissociation constant
An acid dissociation constant is an equilibrium constant for the dissociation of a weak acid.
An acid dissociation constant is an equilibrium constant for the dissociation of a weak acid.
Buffer solution
Buffer solutions are solutions that resist change in Hydronium ion and the hydroxide ion concentration (and consequently pH) upon addition of small amounts of acid or base, or upon dilution.
Buffer solutions are solutions that resist change in Hydronium ion and the hydroxide ion concentration (and consequently pH) upon addition of small amounts of acid or base, or upon dilution.
Acid-base titration
An acid-base titration is a volumetric method in chemistry that allows quantitative analysis of the concentration of an unknown acid or base solution, making use of the neutralization reaction that occurs between acids and bases.
An acid-base titration is a volumetric method in chemistry that allows quantitative analysis of the concentration of an unknown acid or base solution, making use of the neutralization reaction that occurs between acids and bases.
Protonation
Protonation is the addition of a hydrogen ion to an atom, molecule, or ion.
Protonation is the addition of a hydrogen ion to an atom, molecule, or ion.
pH indicator
A pH indicator is a halochromic chemical compound that is added in small amounts to a solution so that the pH of the solution can be determined easily.
A pH indicator is a halochromic chemical compound that is added in small amounts to a solution so that the pH of the solution can be determined easily.
Acetate
An acetate, or ethanoate, is a salt or ester of acetic acid.
An acetate, or ethanoate, is a salt or ester of acetic acid.
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound consisting of one nitrogen atom singly bound to three hydrogen atoms, normally encountered as a gas with a characteristic pungent odor.
Ammonia is a compound consisting of one nitrogen atom singly bound to three hydrogen atoms, normally encountered as a gas with a characteristic pungent odor.
Hydrogen chloride
Hydrogen chloride has the formula HCl.
Hydrogen chloride has the formula HCl.
Sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid once known as oil of vitriol. Each molecule contains a sulfur atom, two hydrogen atoms and four oxygen atoms.
Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid once known as oil of vitriol. Each molecule contains a sulfur atom, two hydrogen atoms and four oxygen atoms.
Equivalence point
The equivalence point or stoichiometric point occurs during a chemical titration when the amount of titrant added is equivalent, or equal, to the amount of analyte present in the sample.
The equivalence point or stoichiometric point occurs during a chemical titration when the amount of titrant added is equivalent, or equal, to the amount of analyte present in the sample.
Mineral acid
A mineral acid is an acid derived from inorganic substances by chemical reaction as opposed to organic acids.
A mineral acid is an acid derived from inorganic substances by chemical reaction as opposed to organic acids.
Neutralization
Neutralization is a chemical reaction, also called a water forming reaction, in which an acid and a base react and produce a salt and water.
Neutralization is a chemical reaction, also called a water forming reaction, in which an acid and a base react and produce a salt and water.
Phenol
Phenol, also known under an older name of carbolic acid, possesses a structure consisting of a hydroxyl group bonded to a phenyl ring.
Phenol, also known under an older name of carbolic acid, possesses a structure consisting of a hydroxyl group bonded to a phenyl ring.
Benzoic acid
Benzoic acid is a colorless crystalline solid and the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid.
Benzoic acid is a colorless crystalline solid and the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid.
Oxoacid
An oxoacid is an acid which contains oxygen.
An oxoacid is an acid which contains oxygen.
Nitric acid
Nitric acid, also known as aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is an aqueous solution of hydrogen nitrate.
Nitric acid, also known as aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is an aqueous solution of hydrogen nitrate.
Phosphoric acid
Phosphoric acid, also known as orthophosphoric acid, is a mineral acid having a molecular structure with one phosphorus atom, four oxygen atoms, and three hydrogen atoms.
Phosphoric acid, also known as orthophosphoric acid, is a mineral acid having a molecular structure with one phosphorus atom, four oxygen atoms, and three hydrogen atoms.
Bicarbonate
A bicarbonate is an intermediate form in the deprotonation of carbonic acid.
A bicarbonate is an intermediate form in the deprotonation of carbonic acid.
Nitrogenous base
Nitrogenous bases are organic compounds that owe their basic properties to the lone pair of electrons of a nitrogen atom.
Nitrogenous bases are organic compounds that owe their basic properties to the lone pair of electrons of a nitrogen atom.
Enol
Enols are alkenes with a hydroxyl group affixed to one of the carbon atoms composing the double bond.
Enols are alkenes with a hydroxyl group affixed to one of the carbon atoms composing the double bond.
Superbase
A superbase is an extremely strong base.
A superbase is an extremely strong base.
Superacid
A superacid is an acid with an acidity greater than that of 100% sulfuric acid.
A superacid is an acid with an acidity greater than that of 100% sulfuric acid.
Proton affinity
The proton affinity of an anion or of a neutral atom or molecule is a measure of its gas-phase basicity.
The proton affinity of an anion or of a neutral atom or molecule is a measure of its gas-phase basicity.
Hydron
Hydron is the general name for the positive hydrogen cation, used to reflect ions formed from the naturally abundant hydrogen, as opposed to proton, which only refers to the most common isotope of hydrogen.
Hydron is the general name for the positive hydrogen cation, used to reflect ions formed from the naturally abundant hydrogen, as opposed to proton, which only refers to the most common isotope of hydrogen.
Burette
A burette is a vertical cylindrical piece of laboratory glassware with a volumetric graduation on its full length and a precision tap, or stopcock, on the bottom.
A burette is a vertical cylindrical piece of laboratory glassware with a volumetric graduation on its full length and a precision tap, or stopcock, on the bottom.
Formic acid
Formic acid (systematically called methanoic acid) is the simplest carboxylic acid
Formic acid (systematically called methanoic acid) is the simplest carboxylic acid
Malonic acid
Malonic acid is a dicarboxylic acid with two carboxyl groups bound to a central carbon.
Malonic acid is a dicarboxylic acid with two carboxyl groups bound to a central carbon.
Basic aromatic ring
Basic aromatic rings are aromatic rings in which the lone pair of electrons of a ring-nitrogen atom is not part of the aromatic system and extends in the plane of the ring.
Basic aromatic rings are aromatic rings in which the lone pair of electrons of a ring-nitrogen atom is not part of the aromatic system and extends in the plane of the ring.
Methylamine
Methylamine is a derivative of ammonia, wherein one H atom is replaced by a methyl group
Methylamine is a derivative of ammonia, wherein one H atom is replaced by a methyl group
Harpoon base
A harpoon base is an organic base that is a very strong base but at the same time a poor nucleophile.
A harpoon base is an organic base that is a very strong base but at the same time a poor nucleophile.
