Which of the following is a weak base?
ammonia
ethyl alcohol
vinegar
potassium hydroxide <my choice
ammonia
To determine which of the following substances is a weak base, you need to understand the properties of bases and their strength. A base is a substance that can accept a proton (H+) from an acid in a chemical reaction.
The strength of a base is determined by its ability to accept protons. A strong base dissociates completely in water and accepts protons easily, while a weak base only partially dissociates and accepts protons less readily.
Let's go through the options:
1. Ammonia (NH3): Ammonia is a weak base. It can accept a proton (H+) from water, forming ammonium (NH4+) ions.
2. Ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH): Ethyl alcohol is not a base. It does not have the ability to accept protons from acids.
3. Vinegar (acetic acid - CH3COOH): Vinegar is an acid, not a base. It can donate protons to bases.
4. Potassium hydroxide (KOH): Potassium hydroxide is a strong base. It completely dissociates in water, releasing hydroxide (OH-) ions.
Therefore, the weak base among the given options is ammonia (NH3).