textbook 6C17

[405669838]

The problem is: "Which is the stronger base, the hypobromite ion, BrO−, or morphine, C17H19O3N?" How do I solve this? I know it involved pKb, but I don't understand how to get that value.

[Vincent Nguyen 3G]

My approach to solving this was just thinking of which base would exert a stronger pull on a proton. Since BrO- has a complete negative charge on it, I figured that it would exert a stronger electrical attraction on a proton than C17H19O3N which only has partial negative charges on some of its polar portions.

[Charmaine Ho 2G]

Because BrO- is the conjugate base of a weak acid, HBrO, it must be relatively strong.
C17H20O3N also has more O atoms attached to the central atom, which makes it a strong acid, meaning its conjugate base, C17H19O3N, is weak.
so BrO- is the stronger base.

[405669838]

Thank you! So this mean pKb isn't needed?