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Wize University Chemistry Textbook > Chemical Reactions

Acids and Bases

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Definitions of Acids and Bases


Arrhenius definition: compounds identified as producing H+ or OH- ions:
  • Acids produce
    H3O+
    aka
    hydronium ions
    :
HCl(g)+H2O(l)→H3O+(aq)+Cl−(aq)HCl(g)+H_2O(l)\to H_3O^+(aq) +Cl^{-}(aq)
  • Bases produce
    OH-
    aka
    hydroxide
    ions:
NaOH(s)→Na+(aq)+OH−(aq)NaOH(s)\to Na^{+}(aq)+OH^-(aq)

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**Bronsted - Lowry definition: compounds identified as H+ acceptors or donors
  • Acids
    donate
    H+ ions
HCl(g)+H2O(l)→H3O+(aq)+Cl−(aq)HCl(g)+H_2O(l)\to H_3O^+(aq)+Cl^-(aq)
  • Bases
    accept
    H+ ions
NH3(g)+H2O(l)⇌NH4+(aq)+OH−(aq)NH_3(g)+H_2O(l)\rightleftharpoons NH_4^+(aq)+OH^{-} (aq)

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Acids

Strong Acids

Strong acids dissociate completely.
Example:
HCl(aq) → H+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

Wize Tip
The following are strong acids that you should memorize!
  • HCl (hydrochloric acid)
  • H2SO4 (sulfuric acid)
  • HNO3 (nitric acid)
  • HClO4 (perchloric acid)
  • HBr (hydrobromic acid)
  • HI (hydroiodic acid)

Weak Acids

Weak acids dissociate incompletely.
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Bases

Strong Bases

Strong bases dissociate completely.

Example:
NaOH(aq) → Na+(aq) + OH-(aq)

Wize Tip
The following are strong bases that you should memorize!
  • All Group 1 Hydroxides (ex. NaOH, KOH, RbOH, CsOH)
  • 3 Group 2 Hydroxides (Ca(OH)2, Sr(OH)2, Ba(OH)2 )
  • All Group 1 Oxides (ex. Li2O, Na2O, K2O)
  • Metal amides (ex. M-NH2 where M is a metal)

Weak Bases

Weak bases dissociate incompletely.

Neutralization Reactions

Neutralization reaction: a reaction where an acid and a base react together to produce a salt and water

Example:
NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(s) + H2O(l)