PP Presentation

Relative Strengths of acids/bases depend on the solvent :

In water: H3O+ is the STRONGEST ACID

OH- is the STRONGEST BASE

Once an acid or base is fully reacted (dissociated) to form these species,

one can no longer distinguish relative strengths. This is called the

LEVELLING ACTION of water

(The relative strengths of two strong acids can only be determined in

non-aqueous solvents)

STRONG ACIDS: HCl, H2SO4, H3PO4, HNO3, HClO4

WEAK ACIDS: CH3CO2H, “H2CO3” (= CO2), HS, HCN, HF

WEAK BASES: NH3, Na2CO3

STRONG BASES: NaOH, Li2O, NaH, Ca(OH)2

Kotz, Table 17.3

In Br rnsted acid-base reactions - H+ transfer occurs from STRONGER to

WEAKER congugate acid-base pair

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