Base Strength

[Akhil Paladugu 3G]

Which is the stronger base, the hypobromite ion, BrO , or morphine, C17H19O3N?

How do we justify this answer without using Kb values

[Henri_de_Guzman_3L]

You mean BrO-

[Christopher Wendland 4F]

BrO- is the stronger base, it is on the list of strong bases and that should be memorized. Morphine is a weak base because the hydroxide ion is attached to nitrogen and those are always weak bases.

[Henri_de_Guzman_3L]

Morphine will accept a proton on the N atom. This is a very weak base. The conjugate acid of BrO- is BrOH which is a weak acid. This suggests that BrO- is a relatively strong base, stronger than morphine

[Ahmed Mahmood 4D]

BrOH is a strong base, and thus it will naturally be stronger than most other bases.