The Physicochemical approach to Acid-Base

The physicochemical approach to acid-base is still controversial, thirty years down the line. This is silly, as the simple idea that one should examine all of the relevant independent variables (and the equations governing them) antedates Peter Stewart. The 'traditional approach' limps by focussing on just one equation (transformed into the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation) and ignores some of the independent variables contributing to pH. No amount of rhetoric can avoid this fact. Here's our tiny contribution ...

• Try out the Java applet that I've created based on Stewart's work. You'll probably need to set aside a few hours to work through the entire page.
• Here's a more traditional approach which many find useful for anaesthetic (and other) exams. We're glad to say that groundbreakers like Rinaldo Bellomo are leading the way in promoting the more rational Stewart approach.
• And in a lighter vein, here's a note on both approaches by Jaishen Rajah!
• Finally, here's a useful precis by Jon Waters.
• Paul Elbers acquired the rights for Stewart's book from Peter Stewart's widow, and has put the entire text of Stewart's book onto the web at AcidBase.org. Unfortunately, it doesn't read that well without the pictures :-(
  The good news is that Paul has now released a new version of Peter Stewart's classic book, with a lot of new material from current enthusiasts. Details are available on the acidbase.org website.

We were rather chuffed to see that the American Thoracic Society (whom we hold in great respect) saw fit to include our website in their Best of the Web section on acid base. You may wish to visit their article, not necessarily because it references our pages, but because you can find other acid base sites of value there!