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

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 6, 2017

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.

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