Strengths of Acids & Bases

Section 20.4

Strength of an acid or base depends on the

degree to which they ionize (break down) in
water

Strong Acids: completely ionized in aqueous solution

Ex. HCl & H2SO4
HCl + H2O --> H3O+ + Cl-

Table 20.7-- Strengths of Common Acids &

Bases

Weak Acids: ionize only slightly in aqueous

solution

Ex. Acetic acid

CH3COOH + H2O H3O+ + CH3COO-

Table 20.7-- Strengths of Common Acids &

Bases

Acid-dissociation
Constant

Ratio of the
dissociated
(ionized) form of an
acid to the
concentration of
the nonionized
form

Ka = [H+] [CH3COO-]
[CH3COOH]

If Ka is small, degree of ionization if small = weak acid

If Ka is large, ionization of acid is more complete = strong
acid

Strong Bases:
dissociate
completely into
metal ions and
hydroxide ions in
aqueous solution
Ex. Ca(OH)2,
Mg(OH)2

Weak Bases: react

with H2O to form OHand the conjugate
acid of the base

NH3 + H2O NH4+ +

OH-

Base Dissociation
Constant

Ratio of
concentration of
conjugate acid
times the
concentration of the
hydroxide ion to the
concentration of the
conjugate base.

Kb = [NH4+] [OH-]
[NH3]

If Kb is large = stronger base If Kb is small = weak

base

Example Problem
A 0.18M SOLUTION OF MONOPROTIC
CHLOROACETIC ACID (CH2CLCOOH)
HAS A PH OF 1.80. CALCULATE THE
ACID DISSOCIATION CONSTANT FOR
THIS ACID. IS THIS A STRONG OR
WEAK ACID?