Final answer:
Strong acids and strong bases both completely ionize in water, producing H+ ions and OH- ions respectively, which makes them strong electrolytes with high ion concentration in solution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Strong acids and strong bases have in common that they are both 100% ionized in aqueous solution. This is known as their 'strength' in a chemical context. The term 'strong' refers to the complete dissociation of the acid or base in water, releasing ions. Strong acids fully ionize to release H+ ions and their corresponding anions, while strong bases fully dissociate to release OH- ions and their corresponding cations.
In contrast, weak acids and bases do not fully dissociate in solution. Typically, less than 5% of a weak electrolyte dissociates into ions, remaining mostly in undissociated form. This incomplete ionization makes them weak electrolytes. For instance, vinegar, which contains acetic acid, is a weak acid because it does not completely ionize in solution.
To illustrate, hydrochloric acid (HCl) is an example of a strong acid that dissociates completely into hydrogen and chloride ions. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is an example of a strong base which readily releases hydroxyl ions. Ultimately, both strong acids and bases produce high concentrations of ions in solution, which is a characteristic they share.