Identifying Weak Acids

[Pallavi Badri 1D]

Hi, I know Professor Lavelle mentioned a couple ways to identify weak acids. Would someone mind explaining them again? Thank you.

[Caylen Jang 1L]

Some ways to identify weak acids are if they give you the equilibrium constant value and it is low then it should be a weak acid. Also, the conjugate acid of a strong base will be a weak acid.

[Mark Tadros 3L]

Well if they give you a Ka value, you can automatically assume that it is weak OR you can memorize the strong acids, and whatever is not strong is automatically weak. I use the mnemonic SO I Brought NO CLean CLOthes, to memorize my strong acids. Strong bases are in the 1 and 2nd column of the periodic table thats how I know them and whatever is not there it is weak. However, with that technique be careful because not all of column 1 and 2 mean its strong base.