Overview
This lecture outlines the seven strong acids and eight strong bases that fully ionize in water, including example dissociation equations for each.
Strong Acids
- Strong acids completely ionize in water, releasing one or more protons (H+) per molecule.
- The 7 strong acids are: HI (hydroiodic acid), HBr (hydrobromic acid), HClO₄ (perchloric acid), HCl (hydrochloric acid), HClO₃ (chloric acid), H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid), HNO₃ (nitric acid).
- Example dissociation: HI → H⁺(aq) + I⁻(aq)
- For H₂SO₄, only the first proton ionizes completely; HSO₄⁻ is a weak acid and can release an additional proton.
Strong Bases
- Strong bases fully ionize in water to provide hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
- The 8 strong bases are: NaOH (sodium hydroxide), KOH (potassium hydroxide), LiOH (lithium hydroxide), RbOH (rubidium hydroxide), CsOH (cesium hydroxide), Ca(OH)₂ (calcium hydroxide), Ba(OH)₂ (barium hydroxide), Sr(OH)₂ (strontium hydroxide).
- Group 1 hydroxides (e.g., NaOH) are highly soluble and release one OH⁻ per formula unit.
- Group 2 hydroxides (e.g., Ca(OH)₂, Ba(OH)₂, Sr(OH)₂) are less soluble but release two OH⁻ ions per formula unit.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Strong acid — An acid that completely dissociates into ions in water.
- Strong base — A base that completely dissociates into ions in water.
- Ionization — The process of a molecule splitting into ions in solution.
- Proton (H⁺) — A hydrogen ion released by acids.
- Hydroxide ion (OH⁻) — An ion released by bases in water.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Memorize all 7 strong acids and 8 strong bases with their chemical formulas.
- Practice writing the dissociation equations for each strong acid and base.