2006-09-13 19:36:59 · 11 answers · asked by xoxo_jenn_24 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
strong acids i'll tell you are sulfuric, nitric, chloric, bromic and iodic acids... easy to memorize, huh?
they usually easily gives off their proton, i.e. the H+, for nitric acid (HNO3) the H is easily given off
weak acids- all acids that do not belong in the list above.
they usually do not dissociate completely...unlike the strong ones
this is also true for weak bases
strong base includes all hydroxides
2006-09-13 19:53:20 · answer #1 · answered by teroy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all THE STRENGTH of an electrolyte corresponds to the degree of its dissociation and NOT just the pH. pH depends more on the concentration than on the strength.
If you know the formula it is quite easy. Look in your textbook or on the net or do a very simple test: A strong acid or base will dissociate completely. So dissolve a known amount of your compound in water and calculate the pH for complete dissociation. Then measure the pH with a pH-meter (preferably) or a proper indicator stick and if the measured value is the same as the calculated then it is a strong electrolyte. If they are not it is a weak.
This test however is only qualitative and will not tell you how strong the acid or base really is.
To do that you need to add stepwise small amounts of base to your acid solution and measure the pH with a pH-meter.
From the plot pH vs amount of base added you can see if it's a strong acid, its valency and calculate the Ka value (or all Ka values if it is polyprotic). The strength of acids is quantitatively expressed by the Ka value(s).
Similarly you would titrate your base with an acid and find the Kb value(s)
2006-09-13 22:59:29 · answer #2 · answered by bellerophon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are testing kits available that measure the level of alkaline in a substance defining it as acid or base. These kits use PH strips that change color when exposed to the material being tested and the color can be compared to a chart to determine how the material should be categorized. I'm not sure how the PH paper works but I think it has something to do with the material's interaction with water as a solvent.
2006-09-13 19:46:50 · answer #3 · answered by Rare Eco-Friendly American Chica 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
see th pH level of the substance
if it is lower than 7 then it is an acid and if it is greater than 7 it is a base
pH=7 means the substance is neutral
as the acidity of a substance increases the pH value decreases
so a strong acid will have a lower pH value and a weak acid will have a value nearer to 7
in the case of bases strong bases will have a higher pH value and weak bases will have values near to 7
hope you understood
2006-09-13 19:48:59 · answer #4 · answered by friend 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if an acid displaces the anion of other acid from its salt, then it is stronger than that acid.
if a acid displaces the cation of other base from its salt, then it is stronger than that base.
apart from this you can make equimolar solutions of all acids u have and test their ph. the ones with lower ph are stronger acids(acidic when <7) and the ones with higher ph are stronger bases(basic when >7)
2006-09-13 22:20:17 · answer #5 · answered by lose control 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a strong acid produces more number of H+ ions .and a stong base produces OH - ions on dissosiation
2006-09-13 19:50:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ph level. the lower it is the more acidic.
2006-09-13 19:39:08 · answer #7 · answered by kurleylovescheese 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by using ph paper
2006-09-13 19:47:47 · answer #8 · answered by nikhil 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
use Litmus paper very cheap and works great
2006-09-13 19:44:27 · answer #9 · answered by RichUnclePennybags 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can use pH.meter to determine them.
2006-09-13 19:43:36 · answer #10 · answered by venus_scd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋