Experimental studies of general acid—base catalysis

5 EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF GENERAL ACID-BASE CATALYSIS  

General acid catalysis is effective when the reaction is catalyzed by hydronium ion as well as by a weak acid, HA, present in the solution i.e.  

This indicates proton transfer via two parallel pathways, from H30+ and from HA to the substrate. 

In order to detect a general acid or general base catalysis, it is necessary to do a series of kinetic experiments in which [H+] or [OH-] and the ionic strength are kept constant while [HA] or [B] are varied in such a way that the buffer ratio remains unchanged within the same series. Details of studies of this type have been adequately described in the literature [1, 3, 4]. 

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