Page 152 - Modern Analytical Chemistry

1400-CH06 9/9/99 7:40 AM Page 135

C Chapter 6

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Equilibrium Chemistry

Regardless of the problem on which an analytical chemist is
working, its solution ultimately requires a knowledge of chemistry and
the ability to reason with that knowledge. For example, an analytical
chemist developing a method for studying the effect of pollution on
spruce trees needs to know, or know where to find, the structural
and chemical differences between p-hydroxybenzoic acid and
p-hydroxyacetophenone, two common phenols found in the needles of
spruce trees (Figure 6.1). Chemical reasoning is a product of experience
and is constructed from knowledge acquired in the classroom, the
laboratory, and the chemical literature.
The material in this text assumes familiarity with topics covered in
the courses and laboratory work you have already completed. This
chapter provides a review of equilibrium chemistry. Much of the
material in this chapter should be familiar to you, but other ideas are
natural extensions of familiar topics.

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