Unit 3 (Acids and Bases)

This video introduces the three major definitions of acids and bases—Bronsted-Lowry, Lewis, and Arrhenius—and explains their relevance in organic chemistry. It highlights the importance of the Bronsted-Lowry and Lewis definitions for understanding acid-base reactions and discusses how these definitions are used to draw reaction mechanisms and understand the behavior of acids and bases in different solvents​.

In this video, we focus on Bronsted-Lowry acids and bases, where acids donate protons and bases accept them. The video explains how to diagram these reactions using mechanisms and introduces conjugate acids and bases. It also lays the groundwork for understanding reaction mechanisms that will be explored in future lessons​.

This video dives into Lewis acids and bases, explaining how these species interact through electron pair donation and acceptance, rather than proton transfer. It also introduces electrophiles (electron-loving species) and nucleophiles (nucleus-loving species), and explains the roles of carbocations (positively charged) and carbanions (negatively charged) in these reactions​.

In this video, we discuss the concept of acid/base strength, focusing on the factors that influence a molecule's acidity. Using the mnemonic ARIO (Atom, Resonance, Induction, and Orbitals), we explain how to determine the relative strength of acids and bases based on atomic properties, resonance stability, inductive effects, and hybridization. The video also introduces exceptions and the importance of charge in determining acidity​.

In this video, we explore the use of isotopes, specifically deuterium and tritium, to study reactions in organic chemistry. These isotopes, with 2 and 3 neutrons respectively, are used to "label" hydrogen atoms, making it possible to track their movement in reactions. This method, similar to nuclear medicine tracking, helps chemists understand mechanisms by observing how these labeled isotopes interact in chemical reactions.

This video explains the leveling effect, which restricts the choice of solvents in acid-base reactions. It discusses how solvents' conjugate acids or bases can limit the strength of acids or bases used in reactions. Additionally, the video covers how reactions may not always go to completion, emphasizing the importance of comparing acid/base strengths and conjugate pairs to predict whether a reaction will proceed.