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Base Strength

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 10:14 pm
by 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

Re: Base Strength

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 10:14 pm
by Henri_de_Guzman_3L
You mean BrO-

Re: Base Strength

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 10:16 pm
by 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.

Re: Base Strength

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 10:16 pm
by 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

Re: Base Strength

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2018 11:09 pm
by Ahmed Mahmood 4D
BrOH is a strong base, and thus it will naturally be stronger than most other bases.