Neutral vs charged base

[KiaraTenorio_14B]

What conditions are needed for a base to be neutral, unknown, or charged?

[ashna kumar 3k]

I think you are referring to a solution containing a base that is neutral or charged. This will depend on the pKa of the base and the pH of the solution. When the solution is more acidic than the pKa of the solution, then the deprotonated, charged version of the base will be present as we want more OH- to balance the acidic solution containing more H+ ions. When the solution is more basic than the pKa, then the base stays in its neutral form as the solution doesn't need more OH- to become more basic. I hope this makes sense. The diagram below helps visualize it:

[amara ajon 1d]

Hi,
To tell whether we have a charged solution containing a base, we have to look at the given pH and pKa values and compare them — when the pH<pKa (i.e., the solution is more acidic), the base will dissociate and we'll have a charged solution; when the pH>pKa (i.e., the solution is more basic than the base itself), the base will not dissociate and we will have a neutral solution.