In order to fully understand the complex and dynamic nature of living systems, it is first necessary to understand the unique nature of water and its solutions. The unique properties of water allow it to strongly interact with and mobilize many types of solutes, including ions. Water is also unique in its ability to absorb energy and buffer living systems from the chemical changes necessary to sustain life.
The content in this category covers the nature of solutions, solubility, acids, bases, and buffers.
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Biochemistry |
Biochemistry: A Short Course |
Biology, 2e |
Fundamentals of Biochemistry |
Human Physiology |
Karp’s Cell and Molecular Biology |
Organic Chemistry with a Biological Emphasis, Vol. 1 |
Acid/Base Equilibria (GC, BC)
- Bronsted-Lowry definition of acid, base
- Ionization of water
- Kw, its approximate value (Kw = [H+][OH-] = 10-14 at 25°C, 1 atm)
- Definition of pH: pH of pure water
- Conjugate acids and bases (e.g., NH4+ and NH3)
- Strong acids and bases (e.g., nitric, sulfuric)
- Weak acids and bases (e.g., acetic, benzoic)
- Dissociation of weak acids and bases with or without added salt
- Hydrolysis of salts of weak acids or bases
- Calculation of pH of solutions of salts of weak acids or bases
- Equilibrium constants Ka and Kb: pKa, pKb
- Buffers
- Definition and concepts (common buffer systems)
- Influence on titration curves
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- Ch. 1 Biochemistry: An Evolving Science, pp. 14-16
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- Ch. 2 Water, Weak Bonds and the Generation of Order Out of Chaos, pp. 26-31
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- Ch. 2 Water: Section 2. Chemical Properties of Water, pp. 31-40
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- Ch. 20 Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Homeostasis, pp. 737-744
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- Ch. 2 The Chemical Basis of Life, pp. 32-39
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Ions in Solutions (GC, BC)
- Anion, cation: common names, formulas and charges for familiar ions (e.g., NH4+ ammonium, PO43- phosphate, SO42- sulfate)
- Hydration, the hydronium ion
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NA |
- Ch. 2 Water, Weak Bonds and the Generation of Order Out of Chaos, pp. 18-23
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NA |
- Ch. 2 Water: Section 2. Chemical Properties of Water, pp. 31-40
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- Ch. 2 Chemical Composition of the Body, pp. 25-29
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- Ch. 2 The Chemical Basis of Life, pp. 32-39
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NA |