Which of the following accurately describes acids and bases in regard to ionization?

AWhen free hydrogen ions and free hydroxyl ions are removed from solutions of acids and bases, the acidic and basic properties disappear.
BWeak acids dissociate to a great degree.
CWeak bases dissociate only to a slight degree to produce free hydrogen ions.
DWhen an acid and a base are mixed together in the proper proportions, two hydroxyl ions will unite.

The right answer for the question that is being asked and shown above is that: "A. When free hydrogen ions and free hydroxyl ions are removed from solutions of acids and bases, the acidic and basic properties disappear." This accurately describes acids and bases in regard to ionization

Answer Link

N8tcrawler N8tcrawler · Answer 2 · 2018-09-12T15:10:16-04:00

The correct answer is A. When free hydrogen ions and free hydroxyl ions are removed from solutions of acids and bases, the acidic and basic properties disappear.

The strength of the acid or base depends upon its degree of ionization. Since different acids and different bases dissociate or ionize to different extent in water so their degree of ionization is also different. Strong acids and strong bases ionize in water completely while the weaker acids or bases ionize partially. Ionization of the weak acids in water are in equilibrium. The degree of ionization is the ratio of the number of ionized molecules to the number of molecules which are dissolved in water. In case of acids the ionized molecules are hydrogen ions and in case of bases hydroxyl ions.