Strong and Weak Acids and Bases

• Strong acid or base = strong electrolyte (fully dissociates into ions) (i = number of ions in formula)

  Weak acid or base = weak electrolyte (partially dissociates into ions) (i = depends on the components, can be from 1-2)
• There are seven common strong acids: HCl, HNO3, H2SO4, HBr, HI, HClO4, HClO3
• Remember, most organic acids (contains carbon) are weak acids
• HCl (Hydrochloric acid) = strong acid
• HNO3 (nitric acid) = strong acid
• H2SO4 (Sulfuric acid) = strong acid
• HBr (Hydrobromic acid) = strong acid
• HI (Hydroiodic acid) = strong acid
• HClO4 (Perchloric acid) = strong acid
• HClO3 (chloric acid) = strong acid
• HO2C2O2H (oxalic acid) = weak acid
• H2SO3 (Sulfurous acid) = weak acid
• HSO4- (Hydrogen sulfate ion) = weak acid
• H3PO4 (Phosphoric acid) = weak acid
• HNO2 (nitrous acid) = weak acid
• HF (Hydrofluoric acid) = weak acid (ironically)
• HCO2H (Methanoic acid) = weak acid
• C6H5COOH (benzoic acid) = weak acid
• CH3COOH (acetic acid) = weak acid
• HCOOH (formic acid) = weak acid
• There are eight common strong bases: CsOH, RbOH, LiOH, NaOH, Ba(OH)2, Sr(OH)2, KOH, Ca(OH)2
• CsOH (Cesium hydroxide) = strong base
• RbOH (Rubidium hydroxide) = strong base
• LiOH (Lithium Hydroxide) = strong base
• NaOH (Sodium Hydroxide) = strong base
• Sr(OH)2 (Strontium hydroxide) = strong base
• KOH (Potassium hydroxide) = strong base
• Ca(OH)2 (Calcium hydroxide) = strong base
• There are ten common weak bases.
• NH3 (Ammonia) = weak base
• Al(OH)3 (Aluminum hydroxide) = weak base
• Pb(OH)2 (Lead hydroxide) = weak base
• Fe(OH)2 (Ferric hydroxide) = weak base
• Cu(OH)2 (Copper hydroxide) = weak base
• Zn(OH)2 (Zinc hydroxide) = weak base
• N(CH3)3 (Trimethylamine) = weak base
• CH3NH2 (Methylamine) = weak base
• C6H5NH2 (Aniline) = weak base
• C5H5N (Pyridine) = weak base
• In the Arrhenius Theory,

  acid: contains H+

  base: contains OH-

  Neutralization reactions = forms a salt and water as products