Acid-base equilibria
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Please explain the terms 'strong acid' and 'weak base'.
Shirley replies …
The terms strong and weak as applied to acids and bases are defined in the Nuffield Chemistry students book on pages 80 and 81. The strong acid and weak acid definitions are on page 80 at the bottom of the page in the green type. However I prefer the definition that:
• a weak acid is only partially ionized in water.
• a strong acid is fully ionized in water.
Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid, because it donates all its protons to water and in therefore fully ionized.
A weak acid, like ethanoic acid, donates less than 1% of its protons to water and is therefore only partially ionized.
Weak bases only release low concentrations of hydroxide ions. Sodium hydroxide is fully ionized in solution so it is a strong base releasing high concentrations of hydroxide ions.
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updated: 21 August 2003
