15.

2 Strength of acids and bases

The acid solutions in the two beakers shown in Figure 15.2.1 are of equal
concentration, yet the acid in the beaker on the left reacts more vigorously with zinc
than the acid on the right. The acid on the left is described as a stronger acid than
the one in the beaker on the right.

FIGURE 15.2.1 Zinc reacts more vigorously with a strong acid (left) than with a weak acid (right).
6JG|CEKFUQNWVKQPUCTGQHGSWCNEQPEGPVTCVKQPCPFXQNWOG

In section 15.1, you learned that the Brønsted–Lowry theory defines acids as
proton donors and bases as proton acceptors. In this section, you will investigate
the differences between:
• strong and weak acids
• strong and weak bases.

ACID AND BASE STRENGTH

Experiments show that different acid solutions of the same concentration do not
have the same pH (a measure of the amount of hydronium ion in solution). (pH
will be looked at more closely in section 15.3.)
Some acids can donate a proton more readily than others. The Brønsted–Lowry
theory describes the strength of an acid as its ability to donate hydrogen ions to a
base. The strength of a base is a measure of its ability to accept hydrogen ions from
an acid.
Since aqueous solutions of acids and bases are most commonly used, it
is convenient to use an acid’s tendency to donate a proton to water, or a base’s
tendency to accept a proton from water, as a measure of its strength.
Table 15.2.1 gives the names and chemical formulas of some strong and weak
acids and bases.

TABLE 15.2.1 Examples of common strong and weak acids and bases
Strong acids Weak acids Strong bases Weak bases

Hydrochloric acid, HCl Ethanoic acid, CH3COOH Sodium hydroxide, NaOH Ammonia, NH3

Sulfuric acid, H2SO4 Carbonic acid, H2CO3 Potassium hydroxide, KOH

Nitric acid, HNO3 Phosphoric acid, H3PO4 Calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2

CHAPTER 15 | ACID–BASE REACTIONS IN WATER 369

 Strong acids
As you saw previously, when hydrogen chloride gas (HCl) is bubbled through water,
it ionises completely—virtually no HCl molecules remain in the solution (Figure
15.2.2a). Similarly, pure HNO3  and H2SO4  are covalent molecular compounds,
which also ionise completely in water:
HCl(g) + H2O(l) → H3O+(aq) + Cl–(aq)
H2SO4(l) + H2O(l) → H3O+(aq) + HSO4–(aq)
HNO3(l) + H2O(l) → H3O+(aq) + NO3–(aq)
The single reaction arrow → in each equation above indicates that the ionisation
reaction is complete.
Acids that readily donate a proton are called strong acids. Strong acids donate
protons easily. Therefore, solutions of strong acids contain ions, with virtually no
unreacted acid molecules remaining. Hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric
acid are the most common strong acids.

Weak acids
Vinegar is a solution of ethanoic acid. Pure ethanoic acid is a polar covalent
molecular compound that ionises in water to produce hydrogen ions and ethanoate
ions. In a 1.0 M solution of ethanoic acid (CH3COOH), only a small proportion
of ethanoic acid molecules are ionised at any one time (Figure 15.2.2b). A 1.0 M
CHEMFILE solution of ethanoic acid contains a high proportion of CH3COOH molecules
Differences in conductivity and only some hydronium ions and ethanoate ions. At 25°C, in a 1.0 M solution
of ethanoic acid, the concentrations of CH3COO–(aq) and H3O+ are only about
Acids of equal concentrations can have
0.004 M.
different abilities to conduct an electric
current. When copper electrodes The partial ionisation of a weak acid is shown in an equation using reversible
are immersed in a solution of 1.0 M (double) arrows:
hydrochloric acid and connected to CH3COOH(aq) + H2O(l) CH3COO– + H3O+(aq)
an electric circuit containing a light acid base
globe, the globe glows brightly. When Therefore, ethanoic acid is described as a weak acid in water (Figure 15.2.2).
the hydrochloric acid is substituted (a) (b)
with 1.0 M ethanoic acid, the light only
glows faintly. This is further evidence H2O(l) H2O(l)
that hydrochloric acid is a stronger acid
than ethanoic acid. The brighter light H3O + (aq)
indicates the greater number of ions CH3COO – (aq)
present in a solution of hydrochloric
acid than in ethanoic acid.
Cl – (aq) H3O+(aq)

CH3COOH(aq)

FIGURE 15.2.2 (a) In a 1.0 M solution of a hydrochloric acid the acid molecules are completely
ionised in water. (b) However, in a 1.0 M solution of ethanoic acid only a small proportion of the
ethanoic acid molecules are ionised.

Strong bases
The ionic compound sodium oxide (Na2O) dissociates in water, releasing sodium
ions (Na+) and oxide ions (O2–). The oxide ions react completely with the water,
accepting a proton to form hydroxide ions (OH–):
O2–(aq) + H2O(l) → OH–(aq) + OH–(aq)
base acid
The oxide ion is an example of a strong base. Strong bases accept protons
easily.
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is often referred to as a strong base. However,
according to the Brønsted–Lowry definition of acids and bases, it is more correct
to say that sodium hydroxide is an ionic compound that is a source of the strong
base OH–.

370 AREA OF STUDY 1 | HOW DO SUBSTANCES INTERACT WITH WATER?

Weak bases
CHEMFILE
Ammonia is a covalent molecular compound that ionises in water by accepting a
proton. This ionisation can be represented by the equation: Super acids
NH3(aq) + H2O(l) NH4+(aq) + OH–(aq) Fluorosulfuric acid (HSO3F) is one of
base acid the strongest acids known. It has a
Ammonia behaves as a base because it gains a proton. Water has donated a similar geometry to that of the sulfuric
proton and so it behaves as an acid. acid molecule (Figure 15.2.3). The
Only a small proportion of ammonia molecules are ionised at any instant, so JKIJN[GNGEVTQPGICVKXGƃWQTKPGCVQO
a 1.0 M solution of ammonia contains mostly ammonia molecules together with causes the oxygen–hydrogen bond in
a smaller number of ammonium ions and hydroxide ions. This is shown by the ƃWQTQUWNHWTKECEKFVQDGOQTGRQNCTKUGF
double arrow in the equation. Ammonia is a weak base in water. than the oxygen–hydrogen bond in
sulfuric acid. The acidic proton is easily
Relative strength of conjugate acid–base pairs transferred to a base.
You will recall from section 15.1 that conjugate acids and bases differ by one proton O O
(H+). In the reaction represented by the equation:
S S
HF(aq) + OH–(aq) H2O(l) + F–(aq) HO O F O
HF is the conjugate acid of F– and OH– is the conjugate base of H2O. HF and F– are HO HO
a conjugate acid–base pair. H2O and OH– are another conjugate acid–base pair in
FIGURE 15.2.3 Structure of sulfuric
this reaction. CEKF
NGHVCPFƃWQTQUWNHWTKECEKF
TKIJV
The stronger an acid is, the weaker is its conjugate base. Similarly, the stronger molecules.
a base is, the weaker is its conjugate acid. The relative strength of some conjugate
acid–base pairs is shown in Figure 15.2.4. (NWQTQUWNHWTKECEKFKUENCUUKƂGFCUC
super acid5WRGTCEKFUCTGFGƂPGFCU
Acid Base acids that have acidity greater than the
strong

negligible

HCl Cl− acidity of pure sulfuric acid.

H2SO4 HSO4− 5WRGTCEKFUUWEJCUƃWQTQUWNHWTKECEKF
HNO3 NO3− CPFVTKƃKECEKF
%(3SO3H) are about
Increasing base strength
Increasing acid strength

H3O+ H2O 1000 times stronger than sulfuric

acid. Carborane acid (H(CHB11Cl11)) is
HSO4− SO42−
1 million times stronger than sulfuric
H3PO4 H2PO4−
weak

weak

acid. The strongest known super acid

HF F− KUƃWQTQCPVKOQPKECEKF
*2FSbF6),
CH3COOH CH3COO− which is 1016 times stronger than 100%
H2CO3 HCO3− sulfuric acid.
H2S HS− Super acids are used in the production
H2PO4− HPO42− of plastics and high-octane petrol, in
negligible

H2O OH− EQCNICUKƂECVKQPCPFKPTGUGCTEJ

strong

OH− O2−

FIGURE 15.2.4 The relative strength of some conjugate acid–base pairs.

Strength versus concentration

When referring to solutions of acids and bases, it is important not to confuse
the terms  ‘strong’  and  ‘weak’  with  ‘concentrated’  and  ‘dilute’. Concentrated
and dilute describe the amount of acid or base dissolved in a given volume of
solution. Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid because it readily donates protons. A
concentrated solution of hydrochloric acid can be prepared by bubbling a large
amount of hydrogen chloride into a given volume of water. By using only a small
amount of hydrogen chloride, a dilute solution of hydrochloric acid would be
produced.

CHAPTER 15 | ACID–BASE REACTIONS IN WATER 371

 However, in both cases, the hydrogen chloride is completely ionised—it is a
strong acid. Similarly a solution of ethanoic acid may be concentrated or dilute.
However, as it is partially ionised, it is a weak acid (Figure 15.2.5).

Weak, concentrated Weak, dilute Strong, concentrated Strong, dilute

ethanoic acid ethanoic acid hydrochloric acid hydrochloric acid

acid (CH3COOH, HCl) conjugate base (CH3COO–(aq), Cl–(aq)) H+(aq)

FIGURE 15.2.5 The concentration of ions in an acid solution depends on both the concentration and
strength of the acid.

Terms such as ‘weak’ or ‘strong’ acids, or solutions classified as ‘dilute’ or

‘concentrated’ are qualitative (or descriptive) terms. Solutions can be given
accurate, quantitative descriptions by stating concentrations in mol L−1 or g L−1.

15.2 Review
SUMMARY

• A concentrated acid or base contains more moles of • The stronger an acid, the weaker is its conjugate
solute per litre than a dilute acid or base. base. The stronger a base, the weaker is its
• In the context of acids and bases, the terms ‘strong’ conjugate acid.
and ‘weak’ refer to the relative tendency to accept or
donate protons.
– A strong acid donates a proton more readily than
a weak acid.
– A strong base accepts a proton more readily than
a weak base.

KEY QUESTIONS
1 Write balanced equations to show that, in water: 3 Which one of the following equations represents the
a HClO4 is a strong acid reaction of a strong acid with water?
b HCN is a weak acid A HNO3(aq) + H2O(l) → H3O+(aq) + NO3–(aq)
c CH3NH2 is a weak base. B HF(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ H3O+(aq) + F–(aq)
2 Write balanced equations for the three ionisation C LiOH(s) → Li+(aq) + OH–(aq)
stages of arsenic acid (H3AsO4). D NH3(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ NH4+(aq) + OH–(aq)
4 Perchloric acid is a stronger acid than ethanoic acid.
1.0 M solutions of which acid would you expect to be
a better conductor of electricity? Explain why.

372 AREA OF STUDY 1 | HOW DO SUBSTANCES INTERACT WITH WATER?