8.4 Strong and weak acids and bases
Essential idea:
The pH depends on the concentration of the solution. The strength of acids or bases depends on the extent to which they dissociate in aqueous solution.
Understandings:
- Strong and weak acids and bases differ in the extent of ionization.
- Strong acids and bases of equal concentrations have higher conductivities than weak acids and bases.
- A strong acid is a good proton donor and has a weak conjugate base.
- A strong base is a good proton acceptor and has a weak conjugate acid.
Applications and Skills:
- Distinction between strong and weak acids and bases in terms of the rates of their reactions with metals, metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal hydrogen carbonates and metal carbonates and their electrical conductivities for solutions of equal concentrations.