I\'m having a hard time understanding how to determine strong/weak acids, and st

Question

I'm having a hard time understanding how to determine strong/weak acids, and strong/weak bases. 1. How do I know an acid/base is stronger than another acid/base?

Here are some examples:

1.) Suppose I tell you that the following equillibrium is to the left.

HCO3-(aq) + H2O (l) <---> CO32-(aq) + H3O+(aq)

What is a stronger acid, HCO3- or H3O+?
What is a stronger base, CO32- or H2O?


2.) Suppose I tell you that the following equilibrium is to the left.
CO32-(aq) + H2O(l) <---> HCO3-(aq) + OH-(aq)

Which is the stronger base, CO3- or OH-?

3.) Does the following reaction go to completion?

HC2H3O2 (aq) + H2O (l) ??? C2H3O2-(aq) + H3O+

Which is the stronger acid, HC2H3O2 or H3O+?

Any help is highly appreciated. I feel like this is an easy concept, but I'm really stuck, and need to move on from this so I can continue with my chapter. Unfortunately, it's hard to move on when you can't figure this out! Thank you!

Explanation / Answer

2)

    CO32-(aq)         +   H2O(l) <--=-------------------------> HCO3-(aq) + OH-(aq)

(conjugate base) (conjugate acid)                          ( acid )            ( base )

left side moving means HCO3- strong acid and OH- strong base . so the base from strong acid always weak .

so CO3-2 weak . OH- is strong

3)

no the reaction doesnot go to completion. because HC2H3O2 is a weak acid . H3O+is stronger acid. becuase weak acid always gives only certain amount H+

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