Acidity: Modes of characterization and quantification

Abstract

This paper provides an account of early historical developments in the characterization and quantification of acidity, which may be considered preliminary steps leading to the measurement of acidity. In this "pre-history" of acidity measurement, emphasis is laid on the relative independence of the rich empirical knowledge about acids from theories of acidity. Many attempts were made to compare and assess the strengths of various acids, based on concrete laboratory operations. However, at least until the arrival of the pH measure, the quantification attempts failed to produce anything qualifying as a measurement scale of a recognizable type. It is doubtful whether even pH qualifies as a true measure of acidity, when the full meaning of acidity is taken into account.

A definição ácido-base de Arrhenius dos livros-textos de química: a história de um obstáculo epistemológico e suas consequências para o ensino-aprendizagem

“…Não está em discussão que o conceito de acidez tem uma longa e rica história, para a qual diferentes tradições de pesquisa contribuíram, como brilhantemente demonstrado por Gama e Afonso 38 , Chang 39 , e Ruthenberg e Chang 40 , nem tampouco que este conceito tenha continuado a ser desenvolvido após a amalgamação das teorias de Liebig e Arrhenius. O que quero problematizar é o fato de que a teoria do hidrogênio para os ácidos ainda persiste, com profundas implicações para o ensino-aprendizagem de reatividade em solução aquosa.…”

From successful measurement to the birth of a law: Disentangling coordination in Ohm's scientific practice

“…2 In order to solve this problem, Chang (2004) and van Fraassen (2008) suggest considering the meaning of quantity concepts as emerging along the process through which a form of coordination with measurement procedures is achieved, thus emphasising the constructive aspect of the dynamics between theorising and measuring. Their work stimulated the production of a wealth of case studies focusing on this issue across scientific disciplines (e.g., Barwich & Chang 2015, McClimans et al 2017, Michel 2019, Ruthenberg & Chang 2017, Tal 2016a). Further contributions have significantly advanced the study of coordination with respect to measurement.…”

Chemistry is pluralistic

“…In 1923, Brönsted and Lowry independently described acids as substances which enhance the hydrogen ion concentration (proton-donors) and bases as substances which diminish the hydrogen ion concentration (proton-acceptors; in water, the most important proton-acceptor is the OH¯ ion) This substance-related theory has its predecessor with Arrhenius´ theory of electrolytic dissociation (1887). In 1909, S. Sørensen introduced the pH algorithm, which transfers the molar hydrogen concentration into a logarithmic number.21 For a study of the quotidian background of acidity seeRuthenberg and Chang (2017) Stanford and Kitcher (2000). discuss acidity referring to the causal theory of reference.…”