Question

Which statement best describes a weak base?

It accepts protons and only partially dissociates in water.
It donates protons and completely dissociates in water.
It donates protons and only partially dissociates in the water.
It accepts protons and completely dissociates in the water.

Answer 1

A weak base is a substance that slightly ionizes in water, forming an equilibrium between the non-ionized and ionized forms, thus behaving as a weak electrolyte.

Step-by-step explanation:

A weak base is a substance that accepts protons but does not completely dissociate in water. Unlike strong bases, which ionize completely, a weak base ionizes only slightly, resulting in an equilibrium between the non-ionized base and its ionized form.

An example of a weak base is ammonia (NH3), which in aqueous solution reacts with water to form hydroxide ions (OH-) and ammonium ions (NH4+), though the reaction heavily favors the reactants, indicating limited ionization. This partial dissociation makes weak bases weak electrolytes, meaning they conduct electricity poorly compared to strong bases which are strong electrolytes.