Chemical Equilibria and Acid-base Chemistry

This lecture covers chemical equilibria, acid-base reactions, equilibrium constants, and the concept of closed versus open systems in the context of water quality and biogeochemistry. It delves into the equilibrium of various acids and bases, including monoacids like HCI and diacids such as carbonic acid. The instructor explains the equilibrium constant and its relation to the reaction Gibbs free energy, providing examples and calculations. Additionally, the lecture explores the deprotonation of monoacids like NH4+ and B(OH)3, as well as the speciation of NH3/NH4 and B(OH)3/B(OH)4. It also discusses the significance of Henry's Law constants and the differences between closed and open systems in water biogeochemistry.