Often, we describe weak acids and bases as not fully dissociating (also known as

Question

Often, we describe weak acids and bases as not fully dissociating (also known as ionizing) in water and strong acids and bases as fully dissociating in water. What is actually happening on a molecular level? Note: the answer options only mention strong and weak acids for simplicity.

Assigned as CHO5: Group Exam Q03 Often, we describe weak acids and bases as not fully dissociating (also known as ionizing) in water and strong acids and bases as fully dissociating in water. What is actually happening on a molecular level? Note: the answer options only mention strong and weak acids for simplicity. In the case of strong acids, the salt that the hydrogen is bound to is always very soluble in water (ex. HCl, CI-is very soluble). Because of this high solubility, the hydrogens are free to dissociate away from the salt and interact with the water. In the case of weak acids, the salts formed when the hydrogens dissociate are much less soluble. Because of this low solubility, many of the hydrogens do not dissociate in water, and remain attached to the acid. In the case of strong acids, the ion that is created when the hydrogen leaves is very stable. Because of this stability it is favorable for the hydrogen to leave, since breaking that bond will release energy into the system. Weak acids, however, form a very unstable ion when the hydrogen leaves. This instability negates the energy gain that would happen from the breaking of the bond with the hydrogen, so it is less favorable to break. In the case of strong acids, the hydrogens are very mobile and able to interact with the water easily. Because of how accessible the hydrogen is to the water, the water can easily pull off the hydrogen, and will fully ionize the O Cacid. In the case of weak acids, the water has less access to the hydrogen (the hydrogen is less mobile and somewhat inaccessible to the water). Because of this inaccessibility, the water cannot pull off many of the hydrogens, leading to incomplete ionization of the acid. In the case of a strong acids, the ion that is created when the hydrogen leaves is very stable in water. Because this ion is so stable, the hydrogen is free to interact and bond with the water molecules instead of re-bonding to reform the acid. In the case of a weak acid, the ion that is created when the hydrogen leaves is not very stable in solution. This instability means that the hydrogen is more likely to associate with the ion and reform the acid instead of interacting and bonding with the water molecules. O D In the case of strong acids, the dissociation of the hydrogen is extremely favorable because the bond that will be formed between the hydrogen and water is much more stable than the bond that will break between the hydrogen and the acids. For weak acids, the hydrogen is bound to the acid with a much stronger bond, the water to pull it off. Because of this difference in bond strength, the strong acid will be fully ionized, while the weak acid will be only partially ionized. O E making it harder for Unanswered

Explanation / Answer

The right option is B

Strong acids have stable anion formed after H+ release

weak acids have unstabel anion formed after H+ release. The stability of anion formed after H+ release determines acidicty strength

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