Types of Bases
Bases can be classified on the basis of acidity, concentration, and ionization ability. The classification is mentioned below
Types of Bases Based on Acidity
Acidity of a Base refers to the number of replaceable hydroxyl groups present in one molecule of the base. Based on acidity, bases are classified into three categories:
- Monoacidic Base
- Diacidic Base
- Triacidic Base
Monoacidic: Mono-acidic bases are those that contain only one replaceable hydroxyl ion and interact with only one hydrogen ion. Monoacidic bases include NaOH, KOH, and others.
Diacidic: Diacidic base is a base with two replaceable hydroxyl ions that interact with two hydrogen ions. Ca(OH)2, Mg(OH)2, and other di-acidic bases are examples.
Triacidic: Triacidic base is a type of base that comprises three replaceable hydroxyl ions and three hydrogen ions. Triacidic bases include Al(OH)3, Fe(OH)3, and others.
Types of Bases Based on Their Concentration in Aqueous Solution
Concentration refers to the amount of the base present in an aqueous solution. Based on their concentration in aqueous solution, bases are divided into two categories:
- Concentrated Base
- Diluted Base
Concentrated Base: Concentrated bases are those in which the amount of base is large as compared to the solvent. Concentrated NaOH solution, for example.
Diluted Base: These types of bases have a lower concentration of base in their aqueous solution. Dilution is the process of reducing the percentage of a solute by adding more amount of solvent. For instance, dilute NaOH, dilute KOH, and so on.
Types of Bases Based on Degree of Ionization
Degree of ionization refers to the ability of a chemical compound to liberate their constituent ion when dissolved in water. In the case of Base, the degree of ionization refers to the ability of the base to release OH– ions when they are dissolved in water. Based on the degree of ionization, bases are classified into two types:
- Strong Base
- Weak Base
Strong Base: Strong Bases are those bases that dissociate completely and liberate OH- ion when dissolved in water. Some examples of Strong Bases include NaOH, KOH, etc.
Weak Base: The bases which don’t undergo complete dissociation and liberate only a fraction of OH- ion is called Weak Base. Examples of Weak bases include Al(OH)3, Cu(OH)2, etc.
Learn More, Strong and Weak Bases
What are Bases? – Definition, Examples, Types, Properties and Uses
Base is a chemical compound that consists of OH– ions and accepts protons. Base in Chemistry are those compounds that turn red litmus blue and when reacted with acid they neutralize the reaction to give salt and water. The pH value of the base is greater than 7. Bases are bitter in taste and slippery in touch. The bases which are soluble in water are called Alkalis. Examples of Bases are Metal Oxides, Metal Hydroxides, etc. Soap is an example of a base that we use in daily life. In this article, we will learn about the definition, properties, and chemical reactions of Bases in detail.