Introduction

Specific outcomes

By the end of this topic, the learner should be able to:

1. Define acids, bases and salts.
2. Explain the differences between aqueous solutions of weak and strong acids, weak and strong bases based on the degree to which they dissociate into ions.
3. Write the formulae and ionic equations for specified acid-base and precipitation reactions.
4. Explain the effect of a solvent in terms of its acid-base character.
5. Test for the presence of specified cations and anions.
6. Identify precipitates and complex ions produced by specified cation-anion reactions.
7. Explain the use of solubility curves in salt extraction.
8. State the types and causes of hardness of water.
9. State the effects and explain the methods of removal of water hardness.