Do strong and weak acids require equal numbers of drops of NaOH to neutralize?
I THINK not....but i am not entirely sure......
2 answers
I THINK SO. BECAUSE IN THIS CASE U WILL KNOW WHICH ONE IS STRONG OR WEAK
Of what concn? If the strong acid and the weak acid have the same molarity, each will require the same number of drops of NaOH for completer neutralization.
Remember, the NaOH can't tell that it is neutralizing a weak acid or a strong acid. All it knows to do is to neutralize the H^+. So if we start with say 10 mL x 0.1 M HCl that is 0.01 moles H^+.
Start with 10 mL of 0.1 acetic acid and that is 0.01 moles H^+. So it takes the same amount of base to neutralize each. BUT, you say, (I can hear you), the weak acid only ionizes partially while the strong acid ionizes 100%. The weak acid has FEWER H^+. You're exactly right; however, as those few H^+ are neutralized, the ionization is shifted to the right (HA ==> H^+ + A^-) so more H^+ keep taking the place of what the NaOH neutralizes until finally all of the HA has ionized and all is gone.
Remember, the NaOH can't tell that it is neutralizing a weak acid or a strong acid. All it knows to do is to neutralize the H^+. So if we start with say 10 mL x 0.1 M HCl that is 0.01 moles H^+.
Start with 10 mL of 0.1 acetic acid and that is 0.01 moles H^+. So it takes the same amount of base to neutralize each. BUT, you say, (I can hear you), the weak acid only ionizes partially while the strong acid ionizes 100%. The weak acid has FEWER H^+. You're exactly right; however, as those few H^+ are neutralized, the ionization is shifted to the right (HA ==> H^+ + A^-) so more H^+ keep taking the place of what the NaOH neutralizes until finally all of the HA has ionized and all is gone.