Since we now know what a weak acid and base vs a strong acid and base is how can we differentiate it without the pH scale?
- We can tell what a strong acid and base vs. a weak acid and base is based off of the # of hydrogen ions. The more hydrogen ions present the stronger the acid and the less hydrogen ions the weaker the acid
- The # of H+ ions produces a strong acid which dissociated completely in order to form hydrogen ions where as a weak acid dissociates only partially.
- Hx--><--H+ ( this equation only dissociates partially so it is a weak acid)
- Hx-->H+ (this equation dissociates completely so it is a strong acid)
- This is the same as bases for OH- because the less ions present the weaker the base