Identifying Acids and Bases

[Andrew Liang 1I]

Is there are way to identify a strong/weak acid or base by just looking at the compound?

[Mashkinadze_1D]

Strong bases will contain column 1/2 elements. The strong acids are hydrochloric, hydrobromic, perchloric, nitric, sulfuric, and hyrodioic. For acids, you should just memorize them as there is only six and it will make it easier.

[Zaynab Hashm 2I]

in addition to the answer above, I have noticed two more things:

weak acids usually have carbon or phosphorus in them (ex. carboxyl group COOH)
weak bases usually have nitrogen in them (ex. amine group NH2 or NH3)

but again, this ISN'T a guideline you should always depend on!

[Jialun Chen 4F]

I agree with Mashkinadze's answer. I personally just memorize the specific strong acids/bases.

[Angela Patel 2J]

Why do strong acids have elements in group 1/2?

[Justin Quan 4I]

Is there are way to identify a strong/weak acid or base by just looking at the compound?

Personally, I think it is easier to memorize the strong acids and strong bases, then assume all other acids and bases are weak.

[alexfwang3g]

Strong bases contain group 1/2 elements. Strong acids should just be memorized. There's only 6 - HCl, H2SO4, HI, HNO3, HBr, HClO4.

[Sara Richmond 2K]

Typically strong acids have a greater difference in electronegativity than weak acids. While weak bases have a smaller difference in electronegativity than strong bases.

[Brynne Burrows 3K]

Strong acids are HCl, H2SO4, HI, HNO3, HBr, and HClO4, weak acids typically have carbon or phosphorus. Some of the strong bases are NaOH, Ba(OH)2, CsOH, and KOH, while weak bases typically have ammines. Nitrogen makes it a weak base because its lone pair can sometimes break the O-H bond in H2O.