Question

What do you understand by the strength of an acid? On what factor does the strength of a base depends?

Answer 1

Definition of acid:

• A chemical species in which hydrogen is the only positive ion can be referred to as an acid.
• It can be replaced by a metal or basic radical.

Strength of an acid:

• The ability or tendency of acid to lose a proton or its degree of ionization is determined by its strength.
• In an aqueous solution, a strong acid completely ionizes, resulting in a high concentration of hydrogen ion $\left({\mathrm{H}}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\right)$.
• In an aqueous solution, a weak acid partially ionizes, resulting in a low concentration of hydrogen ion $\left({\mathrm{H}}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\right)$.

For examples:

• Hydrochloric acid $\left(\mathrm{HCl}\right)$ is classified as a strong acid due to its ability to ionize completely in an aqueous solution.
• Acetic acid $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\right)$ only partially ionizes in water, making it a weak acid.

Base:

• Oxides or hydroxides of metals that react with the acid to form salts and water are called bases.
• A few examples of the base are Sodium hydroxide $\left(\mathrm{NaOH}\right)$ and ammonium hydroxide $\left({\mathrm{NH}}_4\mathrm{OH}\right)$.

Strength of a base:

• The strength of a base depends on the concentration of Hydroxide ions $\left({\mathrm{OH}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\right)$ in an aqueous solution.
• In an aqueous solution, a strong base completely ionizes, resulting in a high concentration of hydroxide ion $\left({\mathrm{OH}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\right)$.
• In an aqueous solution, a weak base partially ionizes, resulting in a low concentration of hydroxide ion $\left({\mathrm{OH}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\right)$.

For example:

• Sodium hydroxide $\left(\mathrm{NaOH}\right)$ is classified as a strong base due to its ability to ionize completely in an aqueous solution, whereas ammonium hydroxide $\left({\mathrm{NH}}_4\mathrm{OH}\right)$ only partially ionizes in water, making it a weak base.