View source for Strong and weak bases

<b>"Strong"</b> bases ionize completely in water.

Example: Sodium hydroxide, NaOH, is a strong base.

Bases are substances that releases hydroxide ions, OH<sup>-</sup>, in water.

<b>"Strong"</b> bases ionize completely in water. For example,

[[File:naoh.gif]]

The above reaction indicates that when sodium hydroxide reacts with water, hydroxide ions are produced in aqueous solution. Note that the arrow points to the products, indicating that virtually ALL the NaOH becomes Na+ and OH<sup>-</sup> ions in aqueous solution. NaOH is therefore a <b>strong base</b>. 

<b>"Weak"</b> bases ionize partially in water.

[[File:ammonia.gif]]

Ammonia, NH<sub>3</sub>, does not completely ionize in water. Most of the ammonia in solution remains un-ionized and a small fraction ionizes to form OH<sup>-</sup> and NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> ions. To represent this in a chemical equation, a double arrow is used. The longer arrow pointing toward the reactants indicates that ammonia in solution remains un-ionized. NH<sub>3</sub> is classified as a <b>weak base</b>.

==Examples==
Names and formulae of eight strong bases. 
* NaOH, sodium hydroxide
* LiOH, lithium hydroxide
* KOH, potassium hydroxide
* RbOH, rubidium hydroxide
* CsOH, cesium hydroxide
* Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub>, calcium hydroxide
* Sr(OH)<sub>2</sub>, strontium hydroxide
* Ba(OH)<sub>2</sub>, barium hydroxide

Names and formulae of a weak base.
* NH<sub>3</sub>, ammonia

==Content suitability==
BCIT courses:
<span class="pops">[http://www.bcit.ca/study/outlines/chem0011  CHEM 0011]</span>