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Base (chemistry)
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In chemistry, there are three definitions in common use of the word "base": Arrhenius bases, Brønsted bases, and Lewis bases. All definitions agree that bases are substances that react with acids, as originally proposed by G.-F. Rouelle in the mid-18th century.
In 1884, Svante Arrhenius proposed that a base is a substance which dissociates in aqueous solution to form hydroxide ions OH−. These ions can react with hydrogen ions (H+ according to Arrhenius) from the dissociation of acids to form water in an acid–base reaction. A base was therefore a metal hydroxide such as NaOH or Ca(OH)2. Such aqueous hydroxide solutions were also described by certain characteristic properties. They are slippery to the touch, can taste bitter[1] and change the color of pH indicators (e.g., turn red litmus paper blue).
In water, by altering the autoionization equilibrium, bases yield solutions in which the hydrogen ion activity is lower than it is in pure water, i.e., the water has a pH higher than 7.0 at standard conditions. A soluble base is called an alkali if it contains and releases OH− ions quantitatively. Metal oxides, hydroxides, and especially alkoxides are basic, and conjugate bases of weak acids are weak bases.
Bases and acids are seen as chemical opposites because the effect of an acid is to increase the hydronium (H3O+) concentration in water, whereas bases reduce this concentration. A reaction between aqueous solutions of an acid and a base is called neutralization, producing a solution of water and a salt in which the salt separates into its component ions. If the aqueous solution is saturated with a given salt solute, any additional such salt precipitates out of the solution.
In the more general Brønsted–Lowry acid–base theory (1923), a base is a substance that can accept hydrogen cations (H+)—otherwise known as protons. This does include aqueous hydroxides since OH− does react with H+ to form water, so that Arrhenius bases are a subset of Brønsted bases. However, there are also other Brønsted bases which accept protons, such as aqueous solutions of ammonia (NH3) or its organic derivatives (amines).[2] These bases do not contain a hydroxide ion but nevertheless react with water, resulting in an increase in the concentration of hydroxide ion.[3] Also, some non-aqueous solvents contain Brønsted bases which react with solvated protons. For example, in liquid ammonia, NH2− is the basic ion species which accepts protons from NH4+, the acidic species in this solvent.
G. N. Lewis realized that water, ammonia, and other bases can form a bond with a proton due to the unshared pair of electrons that the bases possess.[3] In the Lewis theory, a base is an electron pair donor which can share a pair of electrons with an electron acceptor which is described as a Lewis acid.[4] The Lewis theory is more general than the Brønsted model because the Lewis acid is not necessarily a proton, but can be another molecule (or ion) with a vacant low-lying orbital which can accept a pair of electrons. One notable example is boron trifluoride (BF3).
Some other definitions of both bases and acids have been proposed in the past, but are not commonly used today.
Properties
[edit]General properties of bases include:
- Concentrated or strong bases are caustic on organic matter and react violently with acidic substances.
- Aqueous solutions or molten bases dissociate in ions and conduct electricity.
- Reactions with indicators: bases turn red litmus paper blue, phenolphthalein pink, keep bromothymol blue in its natural colour of blue, and turn methyl orange-yellow.
- The pH of a basic solution at standard conditions is greater than seven.
- Bases are bitter.[5]
Reactions between bases and water
[edit]The following reaction represents the general reaction between a base (B) and water to produce a conjugate acid (BH+) and a conjugate base (OH−):[3]The equilibrium constant, Kb, for this reaction can be found using the following general equation:[3]
In this equation, the base (B) and the extremely strong base (the conjugate base OH−) compete for the proton.[6] As a result, bases that react with water have relatively small equilibrium constant values.[6] The base is weaker when it has a lower equilibrium constant value.[3]
Neutralization of acids
[edit]
Bases react with acids to neutralize each other at a fast rate both in water and in alcohol.[7] When dissolved in water, the strong base sodium hydroxide ionizes into hydroxide and sodium ions:
and similarly, in water the acid hydrogen chloride forms hydronium and chloride ions:
When the two solutions are mixed, the H
3O+
and OH−
ions combine to form water molecules:
If equal quantities of NaOH and HCl are dissolved, the base and the acid neutralize exactly, leaving only NaCl, effectively table salt, in solution.
Weak bases, such as baking soda or egg white, should be used to neutralize any acid spills. Neutralizing acid spills with strong bases, such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, can cause a violent exothermic reaction, and the base itself can cause just as much damage as the original acid spill.
Alkalinity of non-hydroxides
[edit]Bases are generally compounds that can neutralize an amount of acid. Both sodium carbonate and ammonia are bases, although neither of these substances contains OH−
groups. Both compounds accept H+ when dissolved in protic solvents such as water:
From this, a pH, or acidity, can be calculated for aqueous solutions of bases.
A base is also defined as a molecule that has the ability to accept an electron pair bond by entering another atom's valence shell through its possession of one electron pair.[7] There are a limited number of elements that have atoms with the ability to provide a molecule with basic properties.[7] Carbon can act as a base as well as nitrogen and oxygen. Fluorine and sometimes rare gases possess this ability as well.[7] This occurs typically in compounds such as butyl lithium, alkoxides, and metal amides such as sodium amide. Bases of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen without resonance stabilization are usually very strong, or superbases, which cannot exist in a water solution due to the acidity of water. Resonance stabilization, however, enables weaker bases such as carboxylates; for example, sodium acetate is a weak base.
Strong bases
[edit]A strong base is a basic chemical compound that can remove a proton (H+) from (or deprotonate) a molecule of even a very weak acid (such as water) in an acid–base reaction. Common examples of strong bases include hydroxides of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, like sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide, respectively. Due to their low solubility, some bases, such as alkaline earth hydroxides, can be used when the solubility factor is not taken into account.[8]
One advantage of this low solubility is that "many antacids were suspensions of metal hydroxides such as aluminium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide";[9] compounds with low solubility and the ability to stop an increase in the concentration of the hydroxide ion, preventing the harm of the tissues in the mouth, oesophagus, and stomach.[9] As the reaction continues and the salts dissolve, the stomach acid reacts with the hydroxide produced by the suspensions.[9]
Strong bases hydrolyze in water almost completely, resulting in the leveling effect.[7] In this process, the water molecule combines with a strong base, due to the water's amphoteric ability; and, a hydroxide ion is released.[7] Very strong bases can even deprotonate very weakly acidic C–H groups in the absence of water. Here is a list of several strong bases:
| Lithium hydroxide | LiOH |
| Sodium hydroxide | NaOH |
| Potassium hydroxide | KOH |
| Rubidium hydroxide | RbOH |
| Cesium hydroxide | CsOH |
| Magnesium hydroxide | Mg(OH) 2 |
| Calcium hydroxide | Ca(OH) 2 |
| Strontium hydroxide | Sr(OH) 2 |
| Barium hydroxide | Ba(OH) 2 |
| Tetramethylammonium hydroxide | N(CH 3) 4OH |
| Guanidine | HNC(NH 2) 2 |
The cations of these strong bases appear in the first and second groups of the periodic table (alkali and earth alkali metals). Tetraalkylated ammonium hydroxides are also strong bases since they dissociate completely in water. Guanidine is a special case of a species that is exceptionally stable when protonated, analogously to the reason that makes perchloric acid and sulfuric acid very strong acids.
Acids with a pKa of more than about 13 are considered very weak, and their conjugate bases are strong bases.
Superbases
[edit]Group 1 salts of carbanions, amide ions, and hydrides tend to be even stronger bases due to the extreme weakness of their conjugate acids, which are stable hydrocarbons, amines, and dihydrogen. Usually, these bases are created by adding pure alkali metals such as sodium into the conjugate acid. They are called superbases, and it is impossible to keep them in aqueous solutions because they are stronger bases than the hydroxide ion (see the leveling effect). For example, the ethoxide ion (conjugate base of ethanol) undergoes this reaction quantitatively in presence of water.[10]
Examples of common superbases are:
- Butyl lithium (n-C4H9Li)
- Lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) [(CH3)2CH]2NLi
- Lithium diethylamide (LDEA) (C
2H
5)
2NLi - Sodium amide (NaNH2)
- Sodium hydride (NaH)
- Lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide [(CH
3)
3Si]
2NLi
Strongest superbases are synthesised in only gas phase:
- Ortho-diethynylbenzene dianion (C6H4(C2)2)2− (the strongest superbase ever synthesized)
- Meta-diethynylbenzene dianion (C6H4(C2)2)2− (second strongest superbase)
- Para-diethynylbenzene dianion (C6H4(C2)2)2− (third strongest superbase)
- Lithium monoxide anion (LiO−) was considered the strongest superbase before diethynylbenzene dianions were created.
Weak bases
[edit]A weak base is one which does not fully ionize in an aqueous solution, or in which protonation is incomplete. For example, ammonia transfers a proton to water according to the equation[11]
- NH3(aq) + H2O(l) → NH+
4(aq) + OH−(aq)
The equilibrium constant for this reaction at 25 °C is 1.8 x 10−5,[12] such that the extent of reaction or degree of ionization is quite small.
Lewis bases
[edit]A Lewis base or electron-pair donor is a molecule with one or more high-energy lone pairs of electrons which can be shared with a low-energy vacant orbital in an acceptor molecule to form an adduct. In addition to H+, possible electron-pair acceptors (Lewis acids) include neutral molecules such as BF3 and high oxidation state metal ions such as Ag2+, Fe3+ and Mn7+. Adducts involving metal ions are usually described as coordination complexes.[13]
According to the original formulation of Lewis, when a neutral base forms a bond with a neutral acid, a condition of electric stress occurs.[7] The acid and the base share the electron pair that formerly belonged to the base.[7] As a result, a high dipole moment is created, which can only be decreased to zero by rearranging the molecules.[7]
Solid bases
[edit]Examples of solid bases include:
- Oxide mixtures: SiO2, Al2O3; MgO, SiO2; CaO, SiO2[14]
- Mounted bases: LiCO3 on silica; NR3, NH3, KNH2 on alumina; NaOH, KOH mounted on silica on alumina[14]
- Inorganic chemicals: BaO, KNaCO3, BeO, MgO, CaO, KCN[14]
- Anion exchange resins[14]
- Charcoal that has been treated at 900 degrees Celsius or activates with N2O, NH3, ZnCl2-NH4Cl-CO2[14]
Depending on a solid surface's ability to successfully form a conjugate base by absorbing an electrically neutral acid, basic strength of the surface is determined.[15] The "number of basic sites per unit surface area of the solid" is used to express how much basic strength is found on a solid base catalyst.[15] Scientists have developed two methods to measure the amount of basic sites: one, titration with benzoic acid using indicators and gaseous acid adsorption.[15] A solid with enough basic strength will absorb an electrically neutral acidic indicator and cause the acidic indicator's color to change to the color of its conjugate base.[15] When performing the gaseous acid adsorption method, nitric oxide is used.[15] The basic sites are then determined by calculating the amount of carbon dioxide that is absorbed.[15]
Bases as catalysts
[edit]Basic substances can be used as insoluble heterogeneous catalysts for chemical reactions. Some examples are metal oxides such as magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, and barium oxide as well as potassium fluoride on alumina and some zeolites. Many transition metals make good catalysts, many of which form basic substances. Basic catalysts are used for hydrogenation, the migration of double bonds, in the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction, the Michael reaction, and many others. Both CaO and BaO can be highly active catalysts if they are heated to high temperatures.[15]
Uses of bases
[edit]- Sodium hydroxide is used in the manufacture of soap, paper, and the synthetic fiber rayon.
- Calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) is used in the manufacture of bleaching powder.
- Calcium hydroxide is also used to clean the sulfur dioxide, which is caused by the exhaust, that is found in power plants and factories.[9]
- Magnesium hydroxide is used as an 'antacid' to neutralize excess acid in the stomach and cure indigestion.
- Sodium carbonate is used as washing soda and for softening hard water.
- Sodium bicarbonate (or sodium hydrogen carbonate) is used as baking soda in cooking food, for making baking powders, as an antacid to cure indigestion and in soda acid fire extinguisher.
- Ammonium hydroxide is used to remove grease stains from clothes
Monoprotic and polyprotic bases
[edit]Bases with only one ionizable hydroxide (OH−) ion per formula unit are called monoprotic since they can accept one proton (H+). Bases with more than one OH- per formula unit are polyprotic.[16]
The number of ionizable hydroxide (OH−) ions present in one formula unit of a base is also called the acidity of the base.[17][18] On the basis of acidity bases can be classified into three types: monoacidic, diacidic and triacidic.
Monoacidic bases
[edit]
When one molecule of a base via complete ionization produces one hydroxide ion, the base is said to be a monoacidic or monoprotic base. Examples of monoacidic bases are:
Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, silver hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, etc.
Diacidic bases
[edit]When one molecule of base via complete ionization produces two hydroxide ions, the base is said to be diacidic or diprotic. Examples of diacidic bases are:

Barium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, zinc hydroxide, iron(II) hydroxide, tin(II) hydroxide, lead(II) hydroxide, copper(II) hydroxide, etc.
Triacidic bases
[edit]When one molecule of base via complete ionization produces three hydroxide ions, the base is said to be triacidic or triprotic. Examples of triacidic bases are:
Aluminium hydroxide, ferrous hydroxide, Gold Trihydroxide,[18]
Etymology of the term
[edit]The concept of base stems from an older alchemical notion of "the matrix":
The term "base" appears to have been first used in 1717 by the French chemist, Louis Lémery, as a synonym for the older Paracelsian term "matrix." In keeping with 16th-century animism, Paracelsus had postulated that naturally occurring salts grew within the earth as a result of a universal acid or seminal principle having impregnated an earthy matrix or womb. ... Its modern meaning and general introduction into the chemical vocabulary, however, is usually attributed to the French chemist, Guillaume-François Rouelle. ... In 1754 Rouelle explicitly defined a neutral salt as the product formed by the union of an acid with any substance, be it a water-soluble alkali, a volatile alkali, an absorbent earth, a metal, or an oil, capable of serving as "a base" for the salt "by giving it a concrete or solid form." Most acids known in the 18th century were volatile liquids or "spirits" capable of distillation, whereas salts, by their very nature, were crystalline solids. Hence it was the substance that neutralized the acid which supposedly destroyed the volatility or spirit of the acid and which imparted the property of solidity (i.e., gave a concrete base) to the resulting salt.
— William B. Jensen, The origin of the term "base"[19]
See also
[edit]- Base-richness (used in ecology, referring to environments)
- Titration
References
[edit]- ^ Johlubl, Matthew E. (2009). Investigating chemistry: a forensic science perspective (2nd ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman and Co. ISBN 978-1429209892. OCLC 392223218.
- ^ Whitten et al. (2009), p. 363.
- ^ a b c d e Zumdahl & DeCoste (2013), p. 257.
- ^ Whitten et al. (2009), p. 349.
- ^ "Definition of BASE". www.merriam-webster.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ^ a b Zumdahl & DeCoste (2013), p. 258.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Lewis, Gilbert N. (September 1938). "Acids and Bases". Journal of the Franklin Institute. 226 (3): 293–313. doi:10.1016/S0016-0032(38)91691-6. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ Zumdahl & DeCoste (2013), p. 255.
- ^ a b c d Zumdahl & DeCoste (2013), p. 256.
- ^ "10.4.1. Alkoxide Ions". Chemistry Libretexts. LibreText. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
- ^ Whitten, Kenneth W.; Gailey, Kenneth D.; Davis, Raymond E. (1992). General Chemistry (4th ed.). Saunders College Publishing. p. 358. ISBN 0-03-072373-6.
- ^ Petrucci, Ralph H.; Harwood, William S.; Herring, F. Geoffrey (2002). General Chemistry. Principles and Modern Applications (8th ed.). Prentice Hall. p. 678. ISBN 0-13-014329-4.
- ^ Miessler, Gary L.; Tarr, Donald A. (1999). Inorganic Chemistry (2nd ed.). Prentice-Hall. pp. 157–159. ISBN 0-13-841891-8.
- ^ a b c d e Tanabe, Kozo (1970). Solid Acids and Bases: their catalytic properties. Academic Press. p. 2. ISBN 9780323160582. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g Tanabe, K.; Misono, M.; Ono, Y.; Hattori, H. (1990). New Solid Acids and Bases: their catalytic properties. Elsevier. p. 14. ISBN 9780080887555. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Polyprotic Acids & Bases". Chemistry LibreTexts. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Electrophile – Nucleophile – Basicity – Acidity – pH Scale". City Collegiate. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ a b "Introduction to Bases: Classification, Examples with Questions & Videos". Toppr-guides. 2 February 2018. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
- ^ Jensen, William B. (2006). "The origin of the term 'base'" (PDF). The Journal of Chemical Education. 83 (8): 1130. Bibcode:2006JChEd..83.1130J. doi:10.1021/ed083p1130. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016.
- Whitten, Kenneth W.; Peck, Larry; Davis, Raymond E.; Lockwood, Lisa; Stanley, George G. (2009). Chemistry (9th ed.). Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-0-495-39163-0.
- Zumdahl, Steven; DeCoste, Donald (2013). Chemical Principles (7th ed.). Mary Finch.
External links
[edit]
The dictionary definition of base at Wiktionary
Base (chemistry)
View on GrokipediaDefinitions and Properties
Arrhenius and Brønsted-Lowry Definitions
The Arrhenius definition of a base, introduced by Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius in his 1884 dissertation on electrolytic dissociation, identifies a base as a substance that increases the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) when dissolved in water.[7] This theory built on observations of electrolyte behavior and explained the common properties of bases, such as their bitter taste and slippery feel, through the production of OH⁻ ions, which can neutralize H⁺ from acids to form water.[8] A classic example is sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which fully dissociates in aqueous solution as NaOH → Na⁺ + OH⁻, directly elevating the OH⁻ concentration.[3] In contrast, the Brønsted-Lowry theory, proposed independently by Danish chemist Johannes Nicolaus Brønsted and British chemist Thomas Martin Lowry in 1923, defines a base as any species capable of accepting a proton (H⁺) from an acid./Acids_and_Bases/Acid/Bronsted_Concept_of_Acids_and_Bases) This proton-transfer model introduces the concept of conjugate acid-base pairs, where a base accepts a proton to become its conjugate acid, and an acid donates a proton to become its conjugate base. For instance, ammonia (NH₃) functions as a Brønsted-Lowry base in water without initially containing OH⁻: Here, NH₃ accepts H⁺ from H₂O (acting as the acid), forming the conjugate acid NH₄⁺ and conjugate base OH⁻.[1] The Brønsted-Lowry definition expands upon the Arrhenius model by applying to any proton-transfer reaction, not limited to aqueous environments or hydroxide production, thus accommodating bases in non-aqueous solvents or gas-phase reactions.[9] While all Arrhenius bases qualify as Brønsted-Lowry bases (since OH⁻ accepts protons), the reverse is not true, as demonstrated by NH₃, which generates OH⁻ indirectly rather than directly.[10] This broader scope marked a significant advancement in understanding acid-base chemistry beyond water-based systems.Lewis Definition
In 1916, Gilbert N. Lewis proposed the concept of the chemical bond as a shared pair of electrons between atoms, laying the groundwork for his later acid-base theory.[11] In 1923, Lewis formalized the electron-pair theory of acids and bases in his monograph Valence and the Structure of Atoms and Molecules, defining a base as any species capable of donating an electron pair to form a coordinate covalent bond with an acid, which acts as the electron-pair acceptor.[12] This framework broadens the understanding of acid-base interactions beyond proton transfer, emphasizing electron donation in diverse chemical contexts./15%3A_Equilibria_of_Other_Reaction_Classes/15.03%3A_Lewis_Acids_and_Bases) Under the Lewis definition, a base is characterized by the presence of a lone pair of electrons or a pi bond that can be shared to form a dative bond, resulting in a Lewis acid-base adduct.[13] A classic example is ammonia (), which serves as a Lewis base by donating its nitrogen lone pair to boron trifluoride (), an electron-deficient Lewis acid, to yield the stable adduct . Similarly, the hydroxide ion () functions as a Lewis base when it donates an electron pair to a proton (), forming a water molecule./15%3A_Equilibria_of_Other_Reaction_Classes/15.03%3A_Lewis_Acids_and_Bases) In coordination chemistry, amines such as ethylamine act as Lewis bases by providing electron pairs to metal cations, forming complexes like those in transition metal ammine compounds.[13] The Lewis definition distinguishes itself from the Brønsted-Lowry theory—where bases accept protons and thus involve a specific subset of electron-pair donations—by encompassing acid-base reactions that do not require protons, such as the formation of adducts in the gas phase or non-aqueous organic solvents./15%3A_Equilibria_of_Other_Reaction_Classes/15.03%3A_Lewis_Acids_and_Bases) This generality makes it particularly advantageous for analyzing reactions in aprotic environments and coordination compounds, where traditional proton-based definitions fall short.[13]Physical and Chemical Properties
Bases in chemistry exhibit distinct physical properties that distinguish them from other substances. Aqueous solutions of bases typically have a bitter taste, though tasting chemicals in a laboratory setting is strongly discouraged due to safety risks.[14] They also produce a slippery or soapy feel when touched, resulting from the saponification reaction between the base and the fatty oils on the skin, which forms soap-like compounds.[15] Additionally, bases are corrosive to biological tissues, capable of causing severe chemical burns upon contact, as seen with common strong bases like lye (sodium hydroxide, NaOH).[16] Chemically, bases in aqueous solutions have a pH greater than 7, indicating a higher concentration of hydroxide ions relative to hydronium ions.[17] They react exothermically with acids in neutralization reactions, releasing heat and forming salts and water.[18] The intensity of these properties, such as corrosiveness and pH elevation, is more pronounced in strong bases, which fully dissociate in water, compared to weak bases that partially ionize.[14] Common tests for identifying bases rely on acid-base indicators. Bases turn red litmus paper blue, a classic qualitative test for basicity.[19] Phenolphthalein, another widely used indicator, remains colorless in acidic or neutral solutions but turns pink or magenta in basic conditions (pH > 8.2).[20] Universal indicator solutions display a range of colors for basic pH values, shifting from green (neutral, pH 7) to blue and violet (pH 8–14) in increasingly basic environments.[21]Classification of Bases
Strong Bases
Strong bases are chemical compounds that completely dissociate in water, producing a high concentration of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) and thereby exhibiting strong basic properties. This full ionization distinguishes them from weak bases, which only partially dissociate. For instance, sodium hydroxide dissociates according to the equation . The base dissociation constant () for strong bases is extremely large, often approaching infinity, indicating negligible reverse reaction in aqueous solutions.[22] Common examples of strong bases include the hydroxides of alkali metals, such as lithium hydroxide (LiOH), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), rubidium hydroxide (RbOH), and cesium hydroxide (CsOH), all of which are highly soluble in water. Hydroxides of heavier alkaline earth metals, like calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂), strontium hydroxide (Sr(OH)₂), and barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)₂), also qualify as strong bases due to complete ionization of the dissolved portion, though their solubility is limited—Ca(OH)₂, for example, has a solubility of approximately 0.173 g/100 mL at 20°C. These compounds are widely used in industrial applications, such as soap production and water treatment.[23][24] Solutions of strong bases exhibit high electrical conductivity owing to the abundance of free ions from complete dissociation. Dissolution of these bases in water is typically highly exothermic, generating significant heat that can cause burns or splattering if not managed properly—for NaOH, the process releases about 44.5 kJ/mol. In concentrated solutions, such as 1 M NaOH, the pH approaches 14, reflecting a hydroxide ion concentration of 1 M.[25][26] Strong bases pose significant hazards due to their extreme corrosiveness, capable of causing severe chemical burns to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes upon contact, as well as corroding metals and organic materials. Solutions with pH ≥ 12.5 are particularly dangerous, necessitating immediate rinsing with water for at least 15 minutes in case of exposure. In industrial settings, handling requires personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, goggles, and protective clothing, along with storage in dedicated corrosive-resistant cabinets and use of local exhaust ventilation to mitigate inhalation risks.[27][28][29]Weak Bases
Weak bases are compounds that do not completely dissociate in aqueous solution, instead establishing an equilibrium in which only a small fraction ionizes to produce hydroxide ions or accept protons. This partial ionization results in a base dissociation constant less than 1, distinguishing them from strong bases that fully ionize.[30][31] The equilibrium for a generic weak base is given by with the expression at 25°C, where concentrations are in moles per liter. The strength of the base is conveniently quantified by , where lower values indicate stronger bases among the weak category.[30][32] Representative examples include ammonia, , which reacts as with (), and various amines such as dimethylamine, , with (), and aniline, , a much weaker base with (). Inorganic examples encompass the carbonate ion, , which acts as with (), calculated from where for is . These values illustrate how quantifies the position of equilibrium, with smaller constants reflecting weaker basicity.[33][34] The basicity of weak bases, particularly amines, is influenced by inductive effects, where electron-donating alkyl groups increase electron density on the nitrogen lone pair, enhancing proton acceptance compared to electron-withdrawing groups like those in arylamines. Solvation in aqueous media further modulates strength by stabilizing the charged conjugate acid through hydrogen bonding, though this effect diminishes for larger or less polarizable bases.[35]Superbases
Superbases represent a class of compounds with extraordinarily high basicity, typically defined as bases whose conjugate acids possess pKa values greater than 25 in non-aqueous solvents, with some exceeding 40, surpassing the strength of typical strong bases such as alkali metal hydroxides. These agents are particularly valued in non-aqueous environments where standard bases fail to deprotonate highly stable carbon-hydrogen bonds or other weak acids. The term "superbase" emerged in the context of organic synthesis to describe reagents capable of generating carbanions from substrates with pKa values around 30–45, enabling reactions inaccessible to milder bases.[36] Organic superbases, such as phosphazenes and guanidines, are prominent due to their tunable structures and thermal stability, often designed to avoid nucleophilicity while maximizing proton abstraction. Phosphazenes, exemplified by Schwesinger's P4 base (1-tert-butyl-4,4,4-tris(dimethylamino)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2,6-diphosphacyclohexane-1,3,5-triene, or t-Bu-P4), exhibit a conjugate acid pKa of approximately 42 in acetonitrile, making it one of the strongest non-ionic organic bases available. Guanidines, like 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD), achieve high basicity through delocalization of the positive charge in their protonated forms, with pKa values for conjugate acids around 26 in acetonitrile.[37][38] These organic variants are favored for their solubility in organic solvents and reduced tendency to form salts that complicate workups. Inorganic superbases include species like the amide ion (NH₂⁻), generated from sodium amide (NaNH₂), where the conjugate acid ammonia (NH₃) has a pKa of about 38 in tetrahydrofuran, classifying it as a superbase for deprotonating terminal alkynes and other C-H acids with pKa >30. Another notable example is potassium tert-butoxide (t-BuOK) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which functions as an effective superbase system; the low solvating ability of DMSO enhances the basicity of the alkoxide ion beyond its aqueous pKa of 19 for t-BuOH, allowing deprotonation of compounds with pKa up to 35. These inorganic systems are often employed in aprotic solvents to minimize proton donation from the medium.[39][40] In organic chemistry, superbases facilitate the deprotonation of exceptionally weak acids, such as hydrocarbons or activated methylene compounds, to form reactive carbanions for subsequent bond-forming reactions like alkylation or condensation, without the side reactions common to metal-based bases. This selective proton abstraction is crucial for constructing complex carbon frameworks in synthesis.[41]Reactions Involving Bases
Dissociation in Water
In aqueous solutions, Brønsted-Lowry bases undergo dissociation by accepting a proton from water molecules, forming their conjugate acid and hydroxide ions according to the general equilibrium reaction: This process increases the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) in the solution, which is characteristic of basic conditions.[10] The extent of this reaction varies; strong bases dissociate nearly completely, while weak bases reach only partial equilibrium.[10] This base dissociation interacts with water's autoionization, where two water molecules react to produce hydronium (H₃O⁺) and hydroxide ions: 2H₂O ⇌ H₃O⁺ + OH⁻. The equilibrium constant for this autoionization, known as the ion product of water (K_w), is defined as K_w = [H⁺][OH⁻] = 1.0 × 10^{-14} at 25°C.[42] In basic solutions, the OH⁻ generated from base dissociation suppresses the autoionization to maintain this constant, resulting in lower [H⁺] than in pure water.[42] The acidity or basicity of these solutions is quantified using pH, defined as pH = -log[H⁺]. For basic solutions at 25°C, where [OH⁻] > 10^{-7} M, the relationship pH + pOH = 14 holds, with pOH = -log[OH⁻]; thus, pH = 14 - pOH provides a direct way to calculate pH from measured or known hydroxide concentrations.[42] The dissociation behavior of bases in water is temperature-dependent because K_w increases with rising temperature—for instance, K_w ≈ 2.5 × 10^{-14} at 37°C—leading to greater autoionization and a shift in the base-water equilibrium toward more OH⁻ production for weak bases.[43] This endothermic nature of autoionization means higher temperatures reduce the neutrality pH from 7 at 25°C to approximately 6.8 at 37°C.[43]Neutralization Reactions
Neutralization reactions occur when acids and bases react to form a salt and water, effectively reducing the concentrations of hydrogen ions (H⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻) in solution. According to the Arrhenius definition, this process involves the combination of H⁺ from the acid and OH⁻ from the base to produce water, leaving behind the salt derived from the cations and anions of the reactants. The general equation for such reactions is acid + base → salt + H₂O. A classic example is the reaction between hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide: This reaction exemplifies a complete neutralization where stoichiometric amounts of acid and base yield neutral products.[44][45] The stoichiometry of neutralization reactions depends on the number of ionizable protons in the acid and hydroxyl groups in the base. For monoprotic acids and monobasic bases, such as HCl and NaOH, the reaction follows a 1:1 molar ratio, meaning one mole of acid neutralizes one mole of base. In cases involving polyprotic acids or bases, multiple equivalence points may appear due to stepwise neutralization of each proton or hydroxide group. For instance, sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), a diprotic acid, requires two moles of NaOH for complete neutralization. These stoichiometric relationships are crucial for quantitative analysis in chemical reactions.[45][46] Neutralization reactions are exothermic, releasing heat as the ionic bonds in water form. For strong acids and strong bases in dilute aqueous solutions, the heat of neutralization is approximately 57 kJ/mol of water produced, reflecting the consistent energy change for the formation of H₂O from H⁺ and OH⁻ regardless of the specific strong acid or base involved. This value arises because strong electrolytes are fully dissociated, leading to a uniform net ionic equation: H⁺(aq) + OH⁻(aq) → H₂O(l). Deviations occur with weak acids or bases due to partial dissociation and additional enthalpic contributions from ionization.[47][48] In analytical chemistry, neutralization reactions form the basis of acid-base titrations, where a base of known concentration is added to an acid solution (or vice versa) to determine the unknown concentration. Titration curves plot pH against the volume of titrant added, revealing characteristic shapes based on acid and base strengths. For a strong acid titrated with a strong base, the equivalence point occurs at pH 7, where equal moles of acid and base have reacted, resulting in a neutral solution. In contrast, titrating a weak acid with a strong base yields an equivalence point above pH 7, as the conjugate base of the weak acid hydrolyzes to produce excess OH⁻. These curves enable precise endpoint detection using indicators or pH meters, with the steep rise near equivalence highlighting the reaction's completion.[49][50]Reactions with Non-Aqueous Solvents
In non-aqueous solvents, the leveling effect that limits the observable strength of strong bases in water is absent, enabling the differentiation and utilization of bases with intrinsic basicities exceeding that of the hydroxide ion. This absence arises because many non-aqueous solvents lack the amphoteric nature of water, which autoionizes to set an upper limit on basicity; instead, these solvents allow bases to exhibit their full proton-accepting capacity without rapid proton transfer to the solvent. For instance, liquid ammonia serves as a protophilic solvent where the conjugate base, amide ion (NH₂⁻), defines the leveling threshold, permitting the study of superbases like alkali metal amides that would be indistinguishable in aqueous media.[51] Specific examples illustrate varying base behaviors across non-aqueous media. In ethanol, a protic solvent weaker as a proton donor than water due to its lower dielectric constant and reduced hydrogen-bonding capacity, bases such as alkoxides display enhanced apparent basicity relative to their aqueous counterparts, allowing finer control in reactions like deprotonations. Conversely, in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), an aprotic polar solvent with high donor number, systems like potassium hydroxide (KOH) or potassium tert-butoxide generate superbasic environments by minimizing proton solvation, facilitating reactions inaccessible in protic solvents. These differences highlight how solvent polarity and proticity dictate base reactivity, with aprotic solvents like DMSO promoting higher basic strengths for applications in organic synthesis.[52][53] Solvent effects on basicity are profoundly influenced by donor-acceptor properties, which modulate the pKa of a base's conjugate acid through differential stabilization of charged species. Protic solvents with strong hydrogen-bond donor abilities, such as alcohols, solvate anions less effectively than water, often increasing measured pKa values and thus apparent basicity, while aprotic solvents with electron-donor capabilities like DMSO enhance anion stability via coordination, lowering pKa and amplifying basic strength. These interactions arise from the solvent's ability to act as a Lewis base or acid, altering the free energy of proton transfer without the autoionization constraints of water. In some contexts, bases function as Lewis bases by coordinating directly to solvent molecules, further tuning reactivity.[54] Spectroscopic techniques provide essential tools for detecting and quantifying basicity in non-aqueous systems, where traditional pH measurements fail due to varying autoionization constants. UV-visible spectroscopy using acidochromic indicator probes monitors color shifts from protonation equilibria, enabling pKa determination by observing absorbance changes as base concentration varies. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy complements this by tracking chemical shift perturbations in proton or heteronuclear signals during acid-base interactions, offering insights into solvation and proton transfer dynamics in solvents like DMSO or ethanol. These methods ensure precise characterization without relying on aqueous standards.[55][54]Specialized Types of Bases
Non-Hydroxide Bases
Non-hydroxide bases are chemical compounds that demonstrate basic properties by accepting protons or generating hydroxide ions through reactions such as hydrolysis, without inherently containing the hydroxide (OH⁻) group in their molecular structure. These bases expand the concept of alkalinity beyond traditional metal hydroxides, encompassing a variety of species including metal oxides, carbonates, and amides that interact with water or acids to produce basic solutions.[56] A prominent example is metal oxides, such as calcium oxide (CaO), commonly known as quicklime, which reacts exothermically with water to form calcium hydroxide:This reaction underscores the basic nature of metal oxides, as the resulting hydroxide ions increase the pH of the solution.[57] Similarly, sodium amide (NaNH₂) serves as a strong non-hydroxide base, acting as a proton acceptor in non-aqueous environments due to the high basicity of the amide ion (NH₂⁻).[58] Carbonates, like sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), exhibit basicity through hydrolysis of the carbonate ion in aqueous solution:
This equilibrium shifts to produce hydroxide ions, making carbonate solutions alkaline, with the extent of hydrolysis depending on the pH. Ammonia (NH₃) and amines function as weak bases by accepting a proton to form ammonium ions:
These examples illustrate how non-hydroxide bases rely on conjugate base strength or reactive anions to manifest alkalinity.[56][59] In environmental contexts, non-hydroxide bases like carbonates contribute significantly to soil alkalinity, particularly in arid regions where sodium carbonate accumulation leads to high pH levels that affect plant nutrient availability and microbial activity. This natural occurrence of carbonate-driven alkalinity influences soil remediation strategies and agricultural practices.[60]
