Question

What is a strong acid? Strong base?

Answer 1

We assume that the solvent is water, and propose......

Explanation:

.....and propose that a strong acid is a species for which the following equilibrium lies to the RIGHT as written:

`HX(aq) +H_2O(l) rarr H_3O^(+) + X^-`

And further that a strong base is an hydroxide species that gives almost complete dissociation to hydroxide ions:

`MOH(aq) rarr M^+ + ""^(-)OH`

Typically (but not always), both acids and bases are hydroxide species, i.e. `M(OH)_x`. The acid causes an increase in the concentration of `"hydronium ion"`, `H_3O^+`, and the base causes an increase in the concentration of `"hydroxide ion"`, `""^(-)OH`.