Untitled - Kelly Walsh High School

54 CHEMISTRY FOR THE UTTERLY CONFUSED
Don’t Forget!
Quick Tip
At the microscopic level, the Arrhenius theory defines acids as substances
which, when dissolved in water, yield the hydronium ion (H 3O ) or H (aq).
Bases are defined as substances which, when dissolved in water, yield the
hydroxide ion (OH – ). Acids and bases may be strong (as in strong electrolytes),
dissociating completely in water, or weak (as in weak electrolytes), partially dissociating
in water. (We will see the more useful Brønsted-Lowry definitions of
acids and bases in Chapter 15.) Strong acids include:
1. Hydrochloric acid, HCl
2. Hydrobromic acid, HBr
3. Hydroiodic acid, HI
4. Nitric acid, HNO3 5. Sulfuric acid, H2SO4 6. Chloric acid, HClO3 7. Perchloric acid, HClO4 Strong bases include:
1. Alkali metal (Group IA or Group 1) hydroxides (LiOH, NaOH, and so on)
2. Calcium, strontium, and barium hydroxides
You must know the strong acids and bases.
Assume, unless told otherwise, that acids and bases not on the above lists are
weak.
Hydrofluoric acid, HF, is not a strong acid.