Solutions with a low pH level have a high concentration of hydrogen atoms, they are known as acids. Solutions with a high pH have low concentrations of pH atoms, they are known as bases. Electrolytes can be categorized into two groups: strong electrolytes and weak electrolytes. Strong electrolytes are soluble and completely ionize in water. Weak electrolytes do not completely dissolve and still contain entire compounds and ions in their solutions. Strong acids and bases are typically strong electrolytes, and weak acids and bases are typically weak …show more content…
Similar to strong acids, strong bases are also good conductors of electricity due to their large concentration of ions. Examples of strong bases are calcium hydroxide and barium hydroxide. Weak bases produce a very low concentration of hydroxide ions, and thus, are poor conductors of electricity. Ammonia and ethylamine are examples of weak bases. As shown in the reaction below, the position of equilibrium gives the reactants an advantage.
Strong base: BOH + H2O → B+ (aq) + OH‐ (aq)
Weak base: NH3 + H2O ↔ NH4 + (aq) + OH‐