Classify each as a strong or weak acid or base:(a)

Solution 11P

Here we have to classify each as a strong or weak acid or base:

It is known that hydrohalic acids (HCl, HBr, HI) are the strong acids because they can completely dissociate H+ ion in aqueous solution.

Oxoacids  are also the strong acids in which both H and O atom are present along with at least one other element, for example, HNO3, H2SO4 and HClO4. In oxoacids, if  the difference between number of O-atoms and number of ionizable protons is at least two oxoacids are said to be strong and if the difference between the number of oxygen atoms and ionizable hydrogen atoms is less than or equal to 1, then the acids are said to be weak acid. All other acids are weak acids.

Metal hydroxides or metal oxides are the strong bases in which the metals belongs from group IA or group IIA. NH3 and amines are the weak base.

Step 1

(a) H3AsO4

In H3AsO4, there are three ionizable hydrogen atoms and four oxygen atoms present. The difference between the ionizable H atom and O-atom is 1. Thus it is a weak acid.

Hence the oxoacid, H3AsO4 is a weak acid.