Weak Bases: Overview, Questions, Preparation

This chapter has multiple topics listed below:

Acids, Bases and Salts Acid Strength Difference between Acid and Bas...Examples of Bases Zinc carbonate Zinc Nitrate Aluminium Phosphate Aspartic Acid Butyric Acid Tannic acid Uses of Folic Acid Uses of Acetic Acid Lactic Acid formula Uses of Citric Acid Magnesium Nitrate Barium Iodide Dilute Acids Magnesium Phosphate Uses of Hydrochloric Acid List of Strong Acids Butanoic Acid Sodium Chlorate Barium Carbonate Chloroacetic Acid Magnesium Bicarbonate Red Cabbage Indicator Sodium Hexametaphosphate Zinc Hydroxide Potassium Iodate Peroxydisulfuric Acid Ph of Acids and Bases Potassium Bromate Weak Acid Examples Weak Bases Magnesium Hydroxide Monosodium Glutamate Potassium Hydroxide Nitrous Acid Henderson Hasselbalch Equation Difference between Alkali and B...Properties of Bases Sodium Citrate Ammonium Phosphate Chemical Indicators Chromic Acid Perchloric Acid Uses of Sodium Hydroxide Zinc Acetate

Yamini Saini

Updated on Jun 30, 2021 04:56 IST

A weak base is a base that does not completely dissociate when dissolved in water. The resulting aqueous solution contains only a small proportion of hydroxide ions and the radical base concerned and a large proportion of the base's undissociated molecules. The ionisation of a weak base is usually a type of equilibrium process in which a chemical equilibrium between the concentration of the undissociated base and its constituent ions is established inside the solution.

Like weak acids, weak bases, especially because of their role in buffer solutions, have important applications in biochemical studies, chemical reactions, and physiological purposes. Weak bases, such as the formation of enolates, can also be used to catalyse certain reactions.

Table of Contents

Examples of Weak Base
Illustrated Examples
FAQs on Weak Bases

Examples of Weak Base

Pyridine (C5H5N)

Pyridine has the molecular formula C5H5N and is an organic compound. This chemical compound is a weak base with a heterocyclic structure. The pyridine composition is similar to that of benzene, except that a single atom of nitrogen is substituted by one of the methine groups.

Ammonia (NH3)

With the formula NH3, ammonia is a chemical compound. It is a poor basis that, under normal temperature and pressure pressures, it persists as a colourless gas. It is understood that this gas is distinguished by its pungent smell. The resulting solution contains the ammonium cation (denoted by the chemical formula NH4+ and the hydroxide anion) when ammonia is dissolved in water.

Trimethylamine (N(CH3)3)

A weak base with the chemical formula N(CH3)3 is trimethylamine, also abbreviated to TMA. In the presence of a catalyst, this compound can be prepared by combining ammonia with methanol.

Weak Base in Class 10:

Under the chapter Acid, Bases and Salts, you will learn about weak bases, their testing, and other details. Weightage is 3 marks.

Weak Base in Class 11:

Application is there in chapters of numerical chemistry. For example, you will be asked to calculate the pH value.

Weak Base in Class 12:

In class 12, you will learn about the reaction of weak bases with the different compounds in many chapters.

Illustrated Examples

List 3 examples of bases that are weak.

Below are three common examples of weak bases.

1. Ammonia
2. Methylamine
3. Pyridine
Is water a weak base?

Yes, pure water acts as a weak base. Pure water actually acts as both a weak acid and a weak base. This is because a small amount of water dissociates to form hydronium ions and hydroxide ions into protons and hydroxide anions, binding with the remaining water molecules.

What weakens a weak base?

A base is a substance that can accept or more generally donate a pair of valence electrons to hydrogen ions (H+); therefore, a weak base does not fully ionise or fully accept hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution.

FAQs on Weak Bases

Q. What is a weak base or acid?

A. A weak acid is an acid that in an aqueous solution or water dissociates partly into its ions. By comparison, in water, a heavy acid completely dissociates from its ions. A mild acid is the conjugate base of a weak acid, while a weak acid is the conjugate base of a weak base.

Q. How can you assess a weak base?

A. It is a weak base if it is less than 100% ionised in the solution. Very few strong bases exist, a weak base is any base not mentioned. Both effective bases are compounds of OH.

Q. What hydroxide is a base that is weak?

A. For example, acetic acid (HC 2 H 3 O 2 ) and oxalic acid (H 2 C 2 O 4 ) are weak acids, while examples of weak bases include iron hydroxide Fe(OH) 3 , and ammonium hydroxide NH 4 OH (which in reality is only ammonia NH 3 , dissolved in water).

Q. What is chemistry's worst base?

A. A common poor base is ammonia. Obviously, ammonia alone does not contain hydroxide ions, but it reacts to create ammonium ions and hydroxide ions with water.

Q. Is Lithium a base that is weak?

A. Lithium hydroxide is still a solid base, only the lowest hydroxide in group 1.