Are all hydroxides basic? What makes a base basic, and an acid acidic?

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Are all hydroxides basic? What makes a base basic, and an acid acidic?

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Answer 1 · 2018-02-04T18:28:52

Both $H_{2} S O_{4}$ $H_2SO_4$ and $H N O_{3}$ $HNO_3$ contain hydroxides....i.e. $^{-} O - + N = O (O H)$ $""^(-)O-stackrel+N=O(OH)$ , and ${(H O)}_{2} S {(= O)}_{2}$ $(HO)_2S(=O)_2$

Explanation:

Both $H_{2} S O_{4}$ $H_2SO_4$ and $H N O_{3}$ $HNO_3$ contain hydroxides....and yet these are STRONG acids....

And an acid is typically the hydroxide of a non-metal, whereas a base is typically the hydroxide of a metal.

Non-metals, from the right hand side of the Periodic Table as we face it, TEND to polarize the electron density towards themselves, thereby weakening the $O - H$ $O-H$ bond of their HYDROXIDES. On the other hand, metals, tend to have their electron density REMOVED by the oxygen centre....

Here we got $B {(O H)}_{3}$ $B(OH)_3$ ...and the oxygen TENDS to polarize the electron density of the $O - H$ $O-H$ bond TOWARDS itself...

${(δ + H - δ - O -)}_{3} B$ $(stackrel(delta+)H-stackrel(delta-)O-)_3B$

....and this the $H - O$ $H-O$ is WEAKENED somewhat.... $p K_{a} = 9.24$ $pK_a=9.24$

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Are all hydroxides basic? What makes a base basic, and an acid acidic?

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