CHM 1045 Graves

Chapter 4.3

Strong and Weak Acids and Bases

Learning Objectives
4.4 Identify strong acids and bases, by name and formula.. 

Prep Assignments
Reading Chapter 4.4

Prep Quizzes:

Acids and bases can be classified as strong or weak.

10 Strong Acids 4 categories of strong bases

HCl Hydrochloric Acid
HBr Hydrobromic Acid a) Hydroxides of Group IA and IIA
HI Hydroiodic Acid metals
HClO3 Chloric Acid e.g. NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH)2 etc.
HClO4 Perchloric Acid
HBrO3 Bromic Acid b) Oxides of Group IA and IIA
HBrO4 Perbromic Acid metals
e.g. Na2O, K2O, CaO etc.
HNO3 Nitric Acid
H2SO4 Sulfuric Acid
c) Hydrides of Group IA and IIA
H2SeO4 Selenic Acid metals
e.g. NaH, KH, CaH2 etc.

d) Amides of Group IA and IIA

metals
e.g. NaNH2, KNH2, Ca(NH2)2 etc.
CHM 1045 Graves

Learning objectives
1. Recognize and identify strong acids and bases.
2. Relate strength of an acid to how it dissociates.
3. Write dissociation reaction for strong and weak acids and bases.
4. Distinguish the dissociation patterns of strong and weak acids and bases

Relating the strength of an acid to its dissociation

Strong acids dissociate completely in solution

Weak acids dissociate partially (or incompletely) in solution producing

hydronium ions and the conjugate base. The undissociated acid is present in the
greatest concentration, with the products being present in relatively smaller
amounts in this
equilibrium mixture.

Model 1

In the solution of concentrated strong acid

Are there both products and reactants present?

Discuss the presence of products and reactants in terms of relative amounts present.

So what can you say about the direction of the reaction?

Does it go to completion?
CHM 1045 Graves

Is it an equilibrium?

Write a reaction showing the dissociation of a strong acid (pay attention to the
arrow you draw)

In the solution of concentrated weak acid

Are there both products and reactants present?

Discuss the presence of products and reactants in terms of relative amounts present.

So what can you say about the direction of the reaction?

Does it go to completion?

Is it an equilibrium?

Write a reaction showing the dissociation of a weak acid (pay attention to the arrow
you draw).
Model 2

Relating the strength of an base to its dissociation

In the solution of concentrated strong base

Are there both products and reactants present?
Discuss the presence of products and reactants in terms of relative amounts present.

So what can you say about the direction of the reaction?

Does it go to completion? Is it an equilibrium?

Write a reaction showing the dissociation of a strong base (pay attention to the
arrow you draw)

In the solution of concentrated weak base

Are there both products and reactants present?
Discuss the presence of products and reactants in terms of relative amounts present.

So what can you say about the direction of the reaction?

Does it go to completion? Is it an equilibrium?

Write a reaction showing the dissociation of a weak base (pay attention to the arrow
you draw).

Strong bases dissociate completely in solution

Weak bases dissociate partially (or incompletely) in solution producing hydroxide
ions and the conjugate acid. The undissociated base is present in the greatest
concentration, with the products being present in relatively smaller amounts in this
equilibrium mixture.
Distinguish an acid from a base in terms of the product of every acid dissolved in
water and every base dissolved in water.

Acids dissolve in water to produce

Bases dissolve in water to produce

Strong, Weak and non Electrolytes

The presence of charged particles (like ions) in solution allows it to conduct

electricity.
Electrolytes are substances that dissolve in water to produce ions in solution. Ions
may be produced because the substance is ionic (eg. NaCl) or because it reacts with
water to produce ions (as in acids and bases). The ions present conduct electricity.
Non-‐electrolytes are substances that do not produce ions when dissolved in water
and therefore do not conduct electricity.

Model 3

HCl HF
Initial
number of
acid
molecules
Number of
acid
molecules
that
dissociated
Percentage
dissociation

Which solution in Model 3 is a better conductor of electricity -‐ the strong acid or the
weak acid? Provide evidence from model 1. Provide an explanation for your answer.
Describe the relationship between the percent ionization of the acid and the
conductivity of the solution.

Describe the relationship between the conductivity of the solution and the strength
of the electrolyte (acid strength). Explain your answer.

NaCl when dissolved in water conducts electricity, but pure NaCl does not conduct
electricity. Explain why.

An ionic compound is usually a strong electrolyte

A molecular substance may be a non-‐electrolyte (eg. sucrose, ethanol), a weak
electrolyte (eg. weak acids, weak bases), or a strong electrolyte (eg. strong acids,
strong bases).

Match the types of solutions to the kinds of solute particles (ions, molecules) that
exist in those solutions

Strong electrolyte molecules only

Weak electrolyte ions only

Nonelectrolyte majority as molecules with some ions

An electrolyte is a solute that increases the electrical conductivity of a solvent when

added to make a solution.
A nonelectrolyte is a solute that does not change the electrical conductivity when added
to a solvent.
Solutions of electrolytes conduct electricity through the movement of ions, which are
produced in solution when the solute dissolves. When an ionic substance dissolves in
water, it breaks up into its component ions, which are free to move about in the solution.
–
NaCl(s) Na + (aq) + Cl (aq) electrolyte
Substances that dissolve to give only molecules in solution do not conduct electricity and
therefore are nonelectrolytes. Table sugar (sucrose) is a typical nonelectrolyte, because it
produces no ions in solution.
C12H22O11 (s)  C12H22O11 (aq) nonelectrolyte

Complete the following table

Formula Name Type of Does it Type of

substance produce ions in electrolyte
(ionic/ solution? If so (Strong
molecular/ what are these electrolyte/weak
strong acid/ ions? electrolyte/non-
strong base/ electrolyte)
weak acid/
weak base)
HCl

NH3

HCOOH

CH3NH2

HClO4

HOCl

NaOH

CH3OH

AgC2H3O2

NiSO4

C6H12O6

Learning objectives
1) Explain the terms electrolyte and non-electrolyte.
2) Explain the differences between strong electrolytes, weak electrolytes and
nonelectrolytes.
3) Predict whether a solute will be electrolyte (Strong or weak) or a nonelectrolyte.