Identifying a strong acid

[Abbey Kerscher 3O]

What is the cut off for an acid to be a strong acid versus being a weak one? Is a strong acid only 1 or 2 on the pH scale?

[Tara_Shooshani_3N]

I don't think that strong and weak acids and bases are determined based on a set number on the pH scale because temperature and solvent change pH. Instead, a strong acid/base is one that completely ionizes in a reaction. A weak acid/base does not completely ionize. You can tell in a question whether you are dealing with weak acids or bases because you will be given a Ka or Kb value, indicating that the molecule does not completely dissociate.

[Jared Gao 3G]

Are we expected to be able to recognize and remember all of the strong and weak acids/bases given to us in the course reader?

[Jata_Kavya_3A]

How can we immediately recognize if its a strong acid or weak acid, without memorizing them?

[Chem_Mod]

It's not good to go by pH to determine if an acid is strong, since molarities vary.

You will be expected to know what the main strong acids are (HI, HBR, HCl, HClO₄, HClO₃, H₂SO₄, HNO₃).

You can know if it's a strong acid by looking at the K_a. Generally, if it's greater than 1 it is a strong acid, as seen here:

http://depts.washington.edu/eooptic/lin ... ength.html

[Caitlin Dillon 3G]

I was struggling trying to memorize the 7 strong acids we need to memorize! I looked up easy ways to remember them and I found this, it is so helpful!


Someone posted:
"My chemistry teacher taught us a way to memorize the strong acids. I hope this is helpful:
"[I] [Br]ought [Chlorine] into the forest, 10 year laters, so far, no trees only clovers"
-So far, is like... S O fOUR [SO4]
-No trees, N O tREE [NO3]
-Clovers, Cl-O-fourss [ClO4]
then just add H in front of each, the I, Br, Cl, SO4, NO3 and ClO4"

Seriously just write this over a couple of times on a piece of paper and it sticks.

[Julia Hwang 3G]

omg such a helpful pneumonic! will definitely be using this thanks :)