Asked by John
When a WEAK acid can be said to be weak, and when a WEAK acid can be said to be strong?
I only know the difference between weak acids and strong acids, but i don't know that even weak acids can be classified as weak and strong. Plz help
I only know the difference between weak acids and strong acids, but i don't know that even weak acids can be classified as weak and strong. Plz help
Answers
Answered by
DrBob222
We use the terms weak and strong sometimes inappropriately.
You're right. Weak acids are those that don't ionize 100%.
Strong acids are those that ionize 100%
I think in the context of your question that a strong weak acid means a concentration solution of a weak acid. For example, we can have glacial acetic acid that is almost 100% stuff right out of the bottle but acetic acid STILL is a weak acid. But that glacial acetic acid could still do harm if dumped on you. In the same vein, we can have weak solutions of a strong acid; i.e., a 1E-5M solution of HCl.
You're right. Weak acids are those that don't ionize 100%.
Strong acids are those that ionize 100%
I think in the context of your question that a strong weak acid means a concentration solution of a weak acid. For example, we can have glacial acetic acid that is almost 100% stuff right out of the bottle but acetic acid STILL is a weak acid. But that glacial acetic acid could still do harm if dumped on you. In the same vein, we can have weak solutions of a strong acid; i.e., a 1E-5M solution of HCl.
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