Essentially, I want examples in further classes that will give me more perspective on why acids and bases matter to a reaction other than 'this is the pH where a reaction can occur'.
So I'm introductory chemistry classes and I find that acids and bases are easy enough to understand when I think about them like proton transfers (loosely as a baseline, and obviously lewis acids and bases are more of electron pair transfers and such.) but my silly brain needs to know 'why this matters and connects to everything else' or it won't remember.
I was talking to some people and perusing through the internet and what I got so far is that having or not having an H+ can change molecular shape, and if you have a few equilibriums, then having an acid-base reaction with one of the products or reactants can cause le chatelier's principal to come into effect. Is that everything? Is there more? I would lovee to be able to imagine the significance a little better.