Why does water have a leveling effect on acids and bases?

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SUMMARY

The leveling effect of water on acids and bases occurs because water can only stabilize ions that are weaker than itself. Strong bases like NaOH and KOH dissociate in water to produce hydroxide ions (OH-), while water also dissociates into hydronium (H3O+) and hydroxide ions. When a stronger base than water, represented as A-, is introduced, it reacts to form a weak acid (HA) and hydroxide ions, effectively limiting the pH change. This phenomenon illustrates that the strongest base in aqueous solution is OH-, while any stronger base will yield a weaker acid, thus leveling the pH effect.

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can somebody explain to me the reason of leveling effect of water in details and numbers? thanks in advance.
 
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Such bases as NaOH, or KOH, which are stronger bases than water, will give OH- ions in water. Also, water itself dissociates to give small amounts of H3O+ and OH-. If a stronger base than H2O is dissolved in water, it will produce OH- and a weak acid.

Assume MA is a very soluble salt, and that A- is a stronger base than H2O.
H2O + M+ + A- -------> M+ + OH- + HA
The OH- is the base now, and HA is a weak acid, having much less effect on pH. Also, the HA might not ordinarily be thought of as an acid; the A- merely accepted a hydrogen ion as it formed a more neutral molecule.
 

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