Specific & General Acid-Base Catalysis

Specific Acid/Base Catalysis:

• Catalysis by hydronium (H₃O⁺) or hydroxide (OH⁻) only.
• Rate is pH-dependent.

Rate law:

\(\text{Rate} = k_H [H_3O^+] + k_{OH} [OH^-]\)

General Acid/Base Catalysis:

• Catalysis by any proton donor (acid) or proton acceptor (base), e.g., acetate, phosphate, ammonia.
• Buffers can contribute to catalysis.

Rate law (general form):

$\text{Rate} = k + k_{AH}[AH] + k_{A^-}[A^-]$

• Where:
  • AH: general acid
  • A⁻: conjugate base

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