The concept of strong and weak

Strong acids In aqueous solution, a strong acid is one that completely dissociates (splits up) into ions. Example: hydrochloric acid. HCl(g) + H2O(l)H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) This is not a reversible reaction, and 100% of the HCl molecules dissociate into ions. Other strong acids include nitric acid and sulphuric acid. Weak acids In aqueous solution, a weak acid is one that only partially dissociates into ions. As a result, a state of equilibrium is produced. Example: carbonic acid. CO2(aq) + H2O(l) 2H+(aq) + CO32-(aq)

Since the equilibrium lies very much to the left, there are few hydrogen ions produced. This leads to the weakly-acidic nature of carbonic acid. In the case of both ethanoic and sulphurous acids, the equilibrium lies very much to the left. Example: sulphurous acid. SO2(aq) + H2O(l) 2H+(aq) + SO32-(aq)

Example: ethanoic acid. CH3COOH(aq) H+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq)

Characteristics of strong and weak acids Equimolar solutions of strong and weak acids differ in pH, conductivity and reaction rate but not in stoichiometry. Property pH Conductivity reaction with magnesium 0.1M HCl 1 high fast 0.1M CH3COOH 3 low slow 10cm3

volume of acid required to neutralise 10cm3 of 0.1M sodium 10cm3 hydroxide (stoichiometry) Strong bases In aqueous solution, a strong base is one that completely ionises. Example: sodium hydroxide. NaOH(s) + H2O(l)Na+(aq) + OH-(aq)

This is not a reversible reaction, and 100% of the NaOH(s) splits into free ions. Weak bases In aqueous solution, a weak base is one that only partially ionises. Just as with weak acids, a state of equilibrium is produced. Example: ammonia solution. NH3(aq) + H2O(l) NH4+(aq) + OH-(aq)

Since the equilibrium lies very much to the left, there are few hydroxide ions produced. This leads to the weakly basic nature of ammonia solution. Characteristics of strong and weak bases Equimolar solutions of strong and weak bases differ in pH and conductivity, but not in stoichiometry. Property pH Conductivity 0.1M NaOH 13 high 0.1M NH3(aq) 11 low 10cm3

volume of base required to neutralise 10cm3 of 0.1M 10cm3 hydrochloric acid (stoichiometry)

The terms 'strong' and 'weak' must not be confused with 'concentrated' and 'dilute'. 'Strong' and 'weak' refer to the ability of an acid or base to ionise. 'Concentrated' and 'dilute' refer to the quantity of acid or base present in the aqueous solution.

The pH of salt solutions

The pH of a salt depends on whether the acid and base from which it is formed are strong or weak.

Question
Decide whether the acids and bases below are strong or weak. 1. Ammonia solution NH,3(aq). 2. Carbonic acid, H2CO3(aq). 3. Sulphurous acid, H2SO3(aq). 4. Nitric acid, HNO3(aq). 5. Hydrochloric acid, HCl(aq). 6. Sodium hydroxide, NaOH(aq). 7. Stearic acid, C17H35COOH(aq). 8. Ethanoic acid, CH3COOH(aq). 9. Potassium hydroxide, KOH(aq). 10. Sulphuric acid, H2SO4. Hide the answer

Answer

1. Weak base 2. Weak acid 3. Weak acid 4. Strong acid 5. Strong acid 6. Strong base 7. Weak acid 8. Weak acid 9. Strong base 10. Strong acid In general, the salt of a strong acid and weak base will form an acidic solution when dissolved in water. Example: ammonium nitrate. When ammonium nitrate dissolves in water, the following two equations are involved in producing the ions present in the solution: NH4NO3(s) + H2O(l)NH4+(aq) + NO3-(aq) H2O(l) OH-(aq) + H+(aq)

The NH4+(aq) and OH-(aq) ions produced are involved in an additional equilibrium for a weak base. The equilibrium position lies towards the formation of NH3(aq): NH4+(aq) + OH-(aq) NH3(aq) + H2O(l)

This additional equilibrium removes hydroxide ions, but not hydrogen ions. The water equilibrium shifts to the right, to replace these lost hydroxide ions and, in so doing, also produces more hydrogen ions. There are now more hydrogen ions than hydroxide ions present, leading to a pH of less than 7. The salt of a weak acid and strong base will form an alkaline solution when dissolved in water. Example: sodium ethanoate. When sodium ethanoate dissolves in water, the following two equations are involved in producing the ions present in the solution: CH3COONa(s) + H2O(l)Na+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq) H2O(l) OH (aq)- + H+(aq)

The H+(aq) and CH3COO-(aq) ions produced are involved in an additional equilibrium for a weak acid. The equilibrium position lies towards the formation of CH 3COOH(aq): CH3COO-(aq) + H+(aq) CH3COOH(aq)

This additional equilibrium removes hydrogen ions, but not hydroxide ions. The water equilibrium shifts to the right, to replace these lost hydrogen ions and, in so doing, also produces more hydroxide ions. There are now more hydroxide ions than hydrogen ions present, leading to a pH of more than 7. Soaps are also salts of weak acids (such as stearic and oleic acid) and strong bases (such as sodium and potassium hydroxide). As a result, soaps are usually alkaline in nature.

The salt of a strong acid and strong base will form a neutral solution when dissolved in water Example: sodium chloride. When sodium chloride dissolves in water, the following two equations are involved in producing the ions present in the solution: NaCl(s) + H2O(l)Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq) H2O(l) OH-(aq) + H+(aq)

The ions present are not involved in an equilibrium associated with a weak acid or base. The equal proportions of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions in the solution are not disturbed by additional equilibria, and so the pH of the solution is equal to 7.