Applications of Aqueous Equilibria

Much important chemistry, including most of the chemistry of the natural world, occurs in aqueous solution. We have already introduced one very significant class of aqueous equilibria, acid-base reactions. In this chapter we consider more applications of acid-base chemistry and introduce two additional types of aqueous equilibria, those involving the solubility of salts and the formation of complex ions. 

The interplay of acid-base, solubility, and complex ion equilibria is often important in natural processes, such as the weathering of minerals, the uptake of nutrients by plants, and tooth decay. For example, limestone (CaCOj) will dissolve in water made acidic by dissolved carbon dioxide  

This process and its reverse account for the formation of limestone caves and the stalactites and stalagmites found there. The acidic water (containing carbon dioxide) dissolves the underground limestone deposits, thereby forming a cavern. As the water drips from the ceiling of the cave, the carbon dioxide if - st 

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This chapter describes several Important applications of aqueous equilibria. We begin with a discussion of buffer chemistry, followed by a description of acid and base titration reactions. Then we change our focus to examine the solubility equilibria of inorganic salts. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the equilibria of complex Ions. 

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