pKa of H2 is approximately 42; pKa of acetylene is approximately 25. Which is the stronger base, hydride or acetylide? When combining hydride with 1-propyne, what product distribution is favored?
I've had over 1200 students of organic chemistry, and only about 10% of them had a functional working knowledge of pKa. This is one of the most important things you need to know to work through organic chemistry problems you've never seen before. Additionally, it's crucial in knowing which species serves as the base in any mechanism requiring a deprotonation.
Download the Evans pKa table, learn some basic pKa's, however more importantly, know what those pKa's mean and how to use them in relative comparisons.
http://evans.harvard.edu/pdf/evans_pka_table.pdfShould you need more organic chemistry self-help, please go to the following page.
http://lennoxtutoring.com/organic-chemistry-tutor-student-resources/The best favor you can do for yourself is to give up memorization in favor of rationalization.
The best of luck to you!