General Chemistry

Organic Chemistry

In chemistry, the term "strong base" refers to a base that completely dissociates into its ions in aqueous solution. A strong base is one that readily donates hydroxide ions (OH-) to the solution, resulting in a high pH. The strength of a base is typically determined by its ability to accept protons (H+) or donate a pair of valence electrons to form a bond. Hydroxide (OH-) is indeed considered a strong base. When hydroxide ions are present in a solution, they readily react with hydrogen ions (protons) to form water: OH- + H+ → H2O This reaction is essentially complete for strong bases, meaning that the equilibrium lies far to the right, with almost all of the hydroxide ions reacting to form water. This is in contrast to weak bases, which only partially dissociate in solution, resulting in an equilibrium that favors the unreacted base form. The strength of hydroxide as a base can be attributed to several factors: 1. Solvation: In aqueous solution, water molecules effectively solvate the ions produced from the dissociation of strong bases, stabilizing them and driving the dissociation process to completion. 2. Ionic Character: Hydroxide ions have a full negative charge, which makes them highly reactive towards protons, thus favoring the formation of water. 3. Conjugate Acid: The conjugate acid of hydroxide is water, which is a very weak acid. The weaker the conjugate acid, the stronger the base, because the base is less likely to donate the hydroxide ion back to form the conjugate acid. It's important to note that while hydroxide is a strong base, there are other bases, such as some alkali metal hydroxides (like sodium hydroxide, NaOH, and potassium hydroxide, KOH), that are even stronger. These compounds dissociate completely in water to yield hydroxide ions and the corresponding cations (Na+ or K+). In summary, hydroxide (OH-) is a strong base in chemistry due to its complete dissociation in aqueous solution, its ability to readily accept protons, and the stabilization of its ions by solvation. This results in a high pH when hydroxide ions are present in a solution, reflecting the strong basic nature of the compound.

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Is hydroxide (OH-) a strong base in chemistry?

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