Question

What happens when a weak acid and a weak base ionize in water?

Answer 1

They slightly increase the concentration of the characteristic cation or characteristic anion of the solvent........

Explanation:

Acid strength depends on the extent of the following reaction......

`HX(aq) + H_2O(l) rightleftharpoonsH_3O^+ + X^-`

For strong acids, `X="halide", X!=F, X=ClO_4^-, X=HSO_4^-`, the given equilibrium lies almost entirely to the right as we face the page, and the acid is almost completely ionized in solution.

For weak acids, `HX=HF, H_3PO_4, H_3C-CO_2H, HNO_2,`....the equilibrium lies to some extent to the left, and the starting acid is INCOMPLETELY ionized.