Strength [ENDORSED]
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Strength
What are the best ways to determine strengths of acids and bases when given the molecular formula?
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Re: Strength
1. If it's diatomic acid, strength is determined by size, so HCl has a weaker bond than HF since it's a larger atom, so HCl can dissociate better than HF.
2. If it's oxoacid, look at number of O atoms since more electrons are pulled away when there are more O atoms, so HClO3 weaker than HClO4
3. Same O, different element: examine electronegativity of central atom since more electronegative has stronger dipole moment on bond than others, so H will break off better
2. If it's oxoacid, look at number of O atoms since more electrons are pulled away when there are more O atoms, so HClO3 weaker than HClO4
3. Same O, different element: examine electronegativity of central atom since more electronegative has stronger dipole moment on bond than others, so H will break off better
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Re: Strength [ENDORSED]
Another method is to determine the stability of the conjugate base. If it is a very stable structure, the acid is strong. If the resulting conjugate base has an unstable structure, the acid was weak.
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Re: Strength
Stronger acids tend to have a greater percent ionization because its conjugate base will tend to stay in that form and be more stable.
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Re: Strength
As stated above, the conjugate base is a good indicator: the more stable it is, the more strong the acid is.
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Re: Strength
So, generally speaking, the greater the electronegativity of whatever atom or molecule that the H+ is disassociating from, the stronger the acid due to the increased polarity/ionic character of that compound?
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