Question
Question: According to Bronsted-Lowry concept, the relative strengths of the bases \(C{H_3}CO{O^ - },O{H^ - }\...
According to Bronsted-Lowry concept, the relative strengths of the bases CH3COO−,OH− and Cl− are in the order:
A. OH−>CH3COO−>Cl−
B. Cl−>OH−>CH3COO−
C. CH3COO−>OH−>Cl−
D. OH−>Cl−>CH3COO−
Solution
The most basic principle of this theory is that when an acid and a base reacts with each other, the acid forms the conjugate base and reversely, the base forms its conjugate acid by the exchange of an electron or a proton (the cation of hydrogen formed with the loss of an electron, H+ ).
Complete step by step answer: According to the Bronsted-Lowry concept, whenever an acid reacts with a base, it undergoes a neutralization reaction to form salt and water. The reaction is as:
Acid+Base→Salt+H2O
The three ions given in the question are: OH−,Cl−,CH3COO−
According to Lowry-Bronsted theory, a strong acid forms a weak conjugate base and a weak acid forms a strong conjugate base. Thus, we can determine the strength of the bases of the ions by determining the strength of their acids and then reversing the order of the strength of the acids.
Now, let us determine the acids of the corresponding conjugate bases.
OH−+H+→H2O
Cl−+H+→HCl
CH3COO−+H+→CH3COOH
In the above acids formed, the relative order of strength of the acids is:
HCl>CH3COOH>H2O
This order is determined by determining their pH and from this we find out that hydrochloric acid is a strong acid and acetic acid is a weak acid. Water is a neutral compound but has a pHslightly greater than 7.
Thus, the correct option is A. OH−>CH3COO−>Cl−.
Note: Water acts as an amphoteric compound, which means it can act as both as a Bronsted-Lowry acid and a Bronsted-Lowry base. Strong acids and bases have a complete ionization or 100% degree of dissociation whereas weak acids and weak bases have a degree of dissociation less than 100%.