If KHP is a weak acid, why is the reaction between KHP and NaOH considered to be a complete reaction, not an equilibrium reaction?
Thanks for you help!
Thanks for you help!
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A weak acid will react with a strong base completely just like a strong acid. Why?
A weak acid ionizes to a small degree in water as: HA + H2O <==> H3O+ + A-
As soon as you add base (OH-), it will react with the H3O+ to form water. Since H3O+ was removed from solution, LeChatelier's principle says that HA will ionize more to replace the H3O+ that was removed. Then you add more base to remove the new H3O+, and this process repeats until there is no more HA left.
A weak acid ionizes to a small degree in water as: HA + H2O <==> H3O+ + A-
As soon as you add base (OH-), it will react with the H3O+ to form water. Since H3O+ was removed from solution, LeChatelier's principle says that HA will ionize more to replace the H3O+ that was removed. Then you add more base to remove the new H3O+, and this process repeats until there is no more HA left.