Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
For example, acetic acid is a weak acid which has a = 1.75 x 10 −5. Its conjugate base is the acetate ion with K b = 10 −14 /K a = 5.7 x 10 −10 (from the relationship K a × K b = 10 −14), which certainly does not correspond to a strong base. The conjugate of a weak acid is often a weak base and vice versa.
Nitric acid, with a pK value of around −1.7, behaves as a strong acid in aqueous solutions with a pH greater than 1. [23] At lower pH values it behaves as a weak acid. pK a values for strong acids have been estimated by theoretical means. [24] For example, the pK a value of aqueous HCl has been estimated as −9.3.
A weak acid HA is one that does not dissociate fully when it is dissolved in water. Instead an equilibrium mixture is formed: HA + H 2 O ⇌ H 3 O + + A −. Acetic acid is an example of a weak acid. The pH of the neutralized solution resulting from HA + OH − → H 2 O + A −
A strong acid, such as hydrochloric acid, at concentration 1 mol dm −3 has a pH of 0, while a strong alkali like sodium hydroxide, at the same concentration, has a pH of 14. Since pH is a logarithmic scale, a difference of one in pH is equivalent to a tenfold difference in hydrogen ion concentration.
One use of conjugate acids and bases lies in buffering systems, which include a buffer solution. In a buffer, a weak acid and its conjugate base (in the form of a salt), or a weak base and its conjugate acid, are used in order to limit the pH change during a titration process. Buffers have both organic and non-organic chemical applications.
Commonly used mineral acids are sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4), hydrochloric acid (HCl) and nitric acid (HNO 3); these are also known as bench acids. [1] Mineral acids range from superacids (such as perchloric acid) to very weak ones (such as boric acid). Mineral acids tend to be very soluble in water and insoluble in organic solvents.
The higher the percentage, the stronger the electrolyte. Thus, even if a substance is not very soluble, but does dissociate completely into ions, the substance is defined as a strong electrolyte. Similar logic applies to a weak electrolyte. Strong acids and bases are good examples, such as HCl and H 2 SO 4. These will all exist as ions in an ...
However, the acids and bases must differ greatly in strength, e.g. one strong acid and one very weak acid. [1] Therefore, the two acids must have a pK a (or pK b) difference that is as large as possible. For example, the following can be separated: Very weak acids like phenols (pK a around 10) from stronger acids like carboxylic acids [1] (pK a ...