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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a strong acid in organic chemistry?
A
Weak conjugate base
B
High degree of ionization in water
C
High molecular weight
D
Low pKa value
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of a strong acid in organic chemistry. A strong acid is one that completely ionizes in solution, meaning it donates protons (H⁺ ions) readily.
Recognize that a strong acid typically has a weak conjugate base. This is because the conjugate base is the species that remains after the acid has donated a proton, and if the acid is strong, the conjugate base is less likely to re-accept a proton.
Identify that a strong acid has a high degree of ionization in water. This means that when dissolved in water, the acid dissociates completely into its ions.
Understand that a low pKa value is characteristic of a strong acid. The pKa value is a measure of the acidity of a substance; the lower the pKa, the stronger the acid.
Recognize that high molecular weight is not a characteristic of a strong acid. Molecular weight does not directly correlate with the strength of an acid; rather, it is the ability to ionize and the stability of the conjugate base that determine acid strength.