NaHCO3, How do you know it is weak base?

[atlanta213]

NaHCO3, How do you know it is weak base?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[PooyaH]

Well if you memorize the list strong bases you'd know if it's weak or not! anything that is not in the list of strong bases is a weak base! Same thing applies to acids!

 

[osimsDDS]

NaHCO3, How do you know it is weak base?

uhhh actually i think thats a strong base, because its the conjugate base of a weak acid carbonic acid H2CO3...

 

[Thundercatz]

uhhh actually i think thats a strong base, because its the conjugate base of a weak acid carbonic acid H2CO3...

yea, i think its a strong base...

osim you should be sleeping son! kakaka

 

[osimsDDS]

yea, i think its a strong base...

osim you should be sleeping son! kakaka

yea im goin right now hahah, i thoguht i would just post my last thread of the day haha

 

[atlanta213]

However kaplan said it is weak base..... that's why i am so confusing

 

[PooyaH]

However kaplan said it is weak base..... that's why i am so confusing

Well it still has one hydrogen which could act as an acid! So I wouldn't say it's a strong base, although it is a conjugate base of a weak acid. However, if it was Na2CO3, then I would say it's a strong base!

 

[harrygt]

When I saw the title, I was like, "Is this guy trying to trick us?" Lol, NaHCO3 is a strong base, not a weak one!

 

[Andrew324]

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/chemical/basecom.html

[SIZE=+5]NaHCO3 = [/SIZE]Sodium Bicarbonate = weak base

 

[PooyaH]

When I saw the title, I was like, "Is this guy trying to trick us?" Lol, NaHCO3 is a strong base, not a weak one!

Dude I don't get why NaHCO3 is a strong base! It could be both basic and acidic:

In neutral solutions it ionizes to Na+ + HCO3-.
The HCO3- can either donate its proton (acid) or accept another (base).
in strong basic solution:
HCO3- + OH- --> CO32- + H2O
in strong acidic solution:
HCO3- + H+ --> H2CO3

How could it be a strong base if it still carries a hydrogen? Actually it's more of a buffer!

 

[Andrew324]

Pooyah you go to ASU?

 

[PooyaH]

yup...remember I took OCHM with Dr. Gould! lol

 

[klutzy1987]

uhhh actually i think thats a strong base, because its the conjugate base of a weak acid carbonic acid H2CO3...

H2CO3 is not a strong acid. Just because it is diprotic, doesnt make it strong. The strong acids are

1)HNO3
2)H2SO4
3)HCl
4)HBr
5)HI
6)HClO4

 

[klutzy1987]

Therefore HCO3- is not a strong base. You should know from bio that HCO3 is a buffer in the body. Now how are we gonna have a strong base acting like a buffer. You all know that that wouldnt work. A buffer is a weak base and its cojugate weak acid only.

 

[JMCougar]

bicarb is definitely a weak base.... that's why it shows up so often in extractions. it will take a H from the more acidic carboxylic acid (so becomes ionized and you get it in the aqueous layer) but leave the H on an alcohol (so it stays in the ether).

 

[klutzy1987]

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/chemical/basecom.html

[SIZE=+5]NaHCO3 = [/SIZE]Sodium Bicarbonate = weak base

OK this post was edited, because it wanst here earlier today.

 

[Jide45]

Thanks Klutzy..esp for the HCO3 = human buffer

 

[Andrew324]

OK this post was edited, because it wanst here earlier today.

Ha, yes it was, look at when I posted it...

 

[Maygyver]

Just because the conjugate acid is weak does not mean the base is strong! That can only be used in judging relative acidity, basicity.