Strong/weak acids and bases

[Artin Allahverdian 2H]

How would we be able to tell if a given acid/base is strong or weak?

[Ashish Verma 2I]

I think he just wanted us to memorize them but generally speaking many strong acids are either polyprotic or the conjugate acid of a halogen anion (with HF being a notable exception).

[Sara Lakamsani 4D]

If it is an acid like HF or HCl, the easiest thing to look at is atomic radius, Cl has a larger atomic radius therefore the bond to the H is longer and weaker, making it more likely to donate the H. That makes it a stronger acid. The other thing to look for is resulting ion stability. Once the proton is donated, you can determine the strength of the molecule that is left with factors like atomic radii, resonance, and formal charge.