equation writing

[marika roberts 3l]

does anyone have any tips for deriving equations for acid/base equilibrium problems in general?

[Jonathan Kwon 2J]

In general, at least this is how I think about it:

All acid/base equations are reversible unless they are strong acids/bases.

Acids will give some number of hydrogen atoms and will produce hydronium (H30+) and a conjugate base.

Bases will take some number of hydrogen atoms and will produce hydroxide (OH-) and a conjugate acid.

You can usually tell whether or not a substance is an acid or base by its chemical formula, with weak acids sometimes having hydrogen atoms "hanging off", like acetic acid (CH3COOH), and bases sometimes having hydroxides already built in the molecule, like Cu(OH)2.

And in the end, you match up however many hydrogen atoms that are being donated or accepted by the acid/base and match it with an equal number of hydronium/hydroxide in the products.