How to identify strong/weak acid/base ?

#NaC_2 H_3O_2#
how would i know if this is strong acid/base or weak acid or base ?

1 Answer
anor277
Oct 24, 2017

How else but by experiment.....?

Explanation:

We got sodium acetate, for whose parent acid #H_3C-CO_2H#, #pK_a=4.76#, i.e. a weak acid.

And thus, were we to dissolve sodium acetate, we should get equilibrium quantities of hydroxide anion, and thus a solution #pH>7#, i.e.

#H_3C-CO_2^(-) + H_2O rightleftharpoons H_3C-CO_2H(aq) + HO^-#

The equilibrium lies to the left, but #pH# would be GREATER than #7#.

Aqueous solutions of #NaF# are also basic. Why should this be so?

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