Writing acid and base equations for test 1?

[aphung1E]

For test 1, will we have to write the equations for acids and bases to find their pH? Is there a certain trick to tell whether you need to se use H30+ or OH- in your equation? Can someone explain how to think logically to write an equation for a solid/base?

[dtolentino1E]

i think it's best to be prepared to write equations for acids and bases. if you know how to tell which compounds are acids and which are bases, then you can determine whether H30+ or OH- is produced

(the trick is that acids give off a proton aka produced H3O+ and bases accept a proton aka produce OH-)

so basically use the template:

acid + water <--> H3O+ + conjugate base

base + water <--> OH- + conjugate acid