Strong/Weak Acids and Bases
What do strong acids do in reactions?
Go to completion
What do weak acids do in reactions?
Go to equilibrium.
How do you tell if a base is weak?
It has nitrogen or carbon in it.
H2SO4
Strong acid
HBr
Strong acid
HCl
Strong acid
HClO3
Strong acid
HClO4
Strong acid
HI
Strong acid
HNO3
Strong acid
Besides the special acids like HCl or HF, how can you tell the difference between a strong or weak acid?
Strong acids have at least 2 or more oxygens than hydrogens.
Ca(OH)2
Strong base
KOH
Strong base
LiOH
Strong base
Mg(OH)2
Strong base
NaOH
Strong base
PbOH
Strong base
H2CO3
Weak acid
H3PO4
Weak acid
HC2H3O2
Weak acid
HCN
Weak acid
HClO
Weak acid
HClO2
Weak acid
HF
Weak acid
CH3Cl2NH3
Weak base
CH3NH2
Weak base
NH3
Weak base