Weak bases react with water to produce strong base?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the properties of weak bases and their reactions with water, specifically addressing the statement that weak bases produce a small amount of a strong base when reacting with water. The correct answer to the posed question is B, indicating that the statement about weak bases producing strong bases is false. The conversation also clarifies that hydroxide ions (OH-) are considered strong bases, and introduces the concept of the leveling effect, which explains that in the presence of water, no stronger base than OH- can exist due to solvent properties.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of weak acids and weak bases
  • Familiarity with pKa and its implications on acid strength
  • Knowledge of hydroxide ions (OH-) and their role as a strong base
  • Concept of the leveling effect in solvents
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the concept of the leveling effect in different solvents
  • Study the definitions and properties of strong and weak acids and bases
  • Explore the implications of pKa values on acid-base strength
  • Learn about the role of hydroxide ions (OH-) in various chemical reactions
USEFUL FOR

Chemistry students, educators, and professionals interested in acid-base chemistry and the behavior of weak bases in aqueous solutions.

KevinFan
Messages
47
Reaction score
0
Please post this type of questions in the HW section using the template and showing your work.
Which of the following statements about weak acids and weak bases are false?
(i) The strength of a weak acid decreases as itspKa
decreases.
(ii) Weak bases react with water to produce a small amount of a strong base.
(iii) The strength of a base decreases as the strength of its conjugate acid increases.
A)ii, iii
B)i
C)i, ii
D)ii
E)i,iii

The correct answer is B but I don't quite understand the second statement. Is OH- alone considered as a strong base?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What definitions of a base do you know?
 
Borek said:
What definitions of a base do you know?
A base produces oh- in water or it's a proton acceptor or an electron donor
 
So is OH- a base?

And if so, in the presence of excess water, can there exist a stronger one?
 
Borek said:
So is OH- a base?

And if so, in the presence of excess water, can there exist a stronger one?

If oh- is a base then in the presence of water, there cannot be a stronger base than oh-... right?
 
Exactly. It is called a leveling effect (and is not limited to water, it is a general property of solvents - just replace OH- with the basic form of the solvent).
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: KevinFan
Borek said:
Exactly. It is called a leveling effect (and is not limited to water, it is a general property of solvents - just replace OH- with the basic form of the solvent).
Thank you for your response
 

Similar threads

Chemistry Are there typos in this snippet causing confusion?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Chemistry Is pH of strong acid strong base titration always 7 at stoichiometric point?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Chemistry Book seems to say that we can have weak acid and weak conjugate base
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Chemistry Understanding how to calculate pH of a buffer solution
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Chemistry How to take into account autoprotolysis in weak base solution?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Chemistry How to calculate pH at equivalence point using this alternative?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Determining Solubility in Acidic Solutions / Pure Water
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Chemistry Comparing methods of computing pH at equivalence point in titration
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Which of the following combinations would act as buffered solutions
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
5K
Should You Pour Acids and Bases Over a Sink in a Lab?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K