Strong vs.

Weak

Comparing strong and weak acids

2HCl + Mg MgCl2 + H2 is a much quicker reaction than
2CH3COOH + Mg (CH3COO)2Mg + H2

even if the acids have the same concentration. Why?

2H3O+(aq) + Mg(s) Mg2+(aq) + H2(g) + 2H2O(l)

Comparing strong and weak acids

Because the [H3O+] is much higher for HCl (the strong acid) than for the weak ethanoic acid. Because the ethanoic acid is only partially dissociated in solution
CH3COOH + H2O

CH COO + H O
3 3

HA

H+

A-

E.g.

HA

A-

H+

E.g.

Strong Acid

Weak Acid

Same concentration of acid

High
Very different [H3O+]

Low

 1 mol L-1 HCl

pH = 0 [H3O+] = 1 mol L-1

1 mol L-1 CH3COOH

pH = 2 [H3O+] = 0.01 mol L-1

100 fold difference in [H3O+]

Strong and weak acids

Strong Acid completely dissociated
higher [H3O+] to react fast reaction

Weak Acid partially dissociated

lower [H3O+] to react slow reaction

2H3O+(aq) + Mg(s) Mg2+(aq) + H2(g) + 2H2O(l)

Strong and weak acids

Weak and strong acids of the same concentration and equal volume have the same amount of acid
Therefore they react to the same extent.

E.g. 1 mol of weak and strong acid will react with the same amount of Mg. The reaction will just take longer for a weak acid.

Strong and weak acids

You need to be very clear about the difference between strong and weak, and concentrated and dilute, in terms of acids (and bases). Strong and weak refer to extent of dissociation. Concentrated (and dilute) refers to the total amount added.

Properties of Strong and Weak Acids

Strong Acid Dissociation Ions Conductivity [H+] pH Reaction rates Completely Many ions High High Weak Acid Partially Few ions Low Low

Low
Fast

Higher
Slow