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Module 6: Acid/Base Reactions
Quick questions on Strong vs weak acids and bases (degree of ionisation) explained: HSC Chemistry Module 6
12short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is strength vs concentration?Show answer
These properties are independent: you can have a dilute strong acid or a concentrated weak acid.
What is strong acids and bases?Show answer
Strong acids are essentially fully ionised in water. The common examples for HSC:
What is weak acids and bases?Show answer
A weak acid only partially ionises, setting up an equilibrium:
What is conductivity?Show answer
Electrical conductivity of a solution depends on the total concentration of ions. At equal acid concentration, a strong acid produces many more ions than a weak acid, so it conducts much better.
What is pH at equal concentration?Show answer
For two solutions of equal concentration:
What is reactivity at equal concentration?Show answer
A strong acid reacts faster initially because more $H^+$ is present at any instant. However, a weak acid reacts to the same final extent with a stoichiometric excess of, for example, magnesium, because as $H^+$ is consumed the equilibrium shifts right (Le Chatelier) and more weak acid ionises.
What is dilution effect on degree of ionisation?Show answer
When a weak acid is diluted, the percent ionisation increases. Mathematically, if $K_a$ is fixed and $c$ decreases, then $x/c = \sqrt{K_a/c}$ grows. In the limit of infinite dilution every weak acid becomes 100 percent ionised. This is a Le Chatelier consequence: dilution favours the side with more particles.
What is confusing strong with concentrated?Show answer
"Strong" refers to degree of ionisation; "concentrated" refers to mol/L. Both terms describe the acid, but they describe different things. Concentrated and dilute apply equally to strong and weak.
What is stating that a weak acid is "less reactive" without qualification?Show answer
It is less reactive initially per mole of dissolved acid. Given time and excess reactant, the total chemistry can be the same.
What is forgetting that diluting a weak acid increases percent ionisation?Show answer
Dilution does not turn a weak acid into a strong one, but it does increase the fraction ionised.
What is ignoring the second ionisation of $H_2SO_4$?Show answer
For dilute solutions HSC typically treats both protons as fully ionised. For concentrated solutions the second $K_a$ matters. State your assumption.
What is reading too much from low conductivity?Show answer
Pure water has very low conductivity but is not "weakly acidic" (its $[H^+] = 10^{-7}$ comes from auto-ionisation). Always relate conductivity to total ion concentration, not to acidity alone.