WEAK BASE Meaning and
Definition
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A weak base refers to a substance that has limited ability to accept protons or donate electrons and therefore exhibits low reactivity or ionization in aqueous solutions. It is an essential concept in chemistry, specifically in acid-base reactions. Unlike strong bases, weak bases only partially ionize or react with water molecules, resulting in the formation of a relatively small number of hydroxide ions.
The strength of a base is determined by its ability to accept protons and form hydroxide ions. Weak bases have a smaller tendency to attract protons, resulting in a slower rate of reaction and a lower concentration of hydroxide ions compared to strong bases.
Typically, weak bases possess certain common characteristics such as a lone pair of electrons, which can be used to form coordinate covalent bonds, a relatively low dissociation constant, and a less stable negative charge. Ammonia (NH3) and organic amines, such as methylamine (CH3NH2), are examples of weak bases commonly encountered in chemistry.
Due to their limited reactivity, weak bases often serve as buffer systems, maintaining the pH levels within a narrow range. They can neutralize small amounts of acids, but their effectiveness may vary depending on the concentration and strength of the acid and base involved.
In summary, a weak base is a substance with a reduced ability to accept protons or donate electrons, resulting in a lower ionization tendency and reactivity compared to strong bases.
Common Misspellings for WEAK BASE
- qeak base
- aeak base
- seak base
- eeak base
- 3eak base
- 2eak base
- wwak base
- wsak base
- wdak base
- wrak base
- w4ak base
- w3ak base
- wezk base
- wesk base
- wewk base
- weqk base
- weaj base
- weam base
- weal base
- weao base
Etymology of WEAK BASE
The word "weak" in the term "weak base" comes from the Old English word "wēac" or "wæc", which means lacking in strength or power. The word "base" in this context refers to a chemical compound that can accept a proton or donate an electron pair during a chemical reaction. Thus, the term "weak base" designates a base that does not completely dissociate in water or has a low ability to accept protons.
