Which constant describes the strength of a weak base in water?

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Multiple Choice

Which constant describes the strength of a weak base in water?

Explanation:
In water, the strength of a weak base is described by its base dissociation constant, Kb. The base reacts with water: B + H2O ⇌ BH+ + OH−, and Kb = [BH+][OH−]/[B]. A larger Kb means more OH− is produced, so the base is stronger. Ka is for acids, Kw is the autoionization of water, and Ksp is the solubility product, so they don’t describe a base’s strength. For a conjugate acid–base pair, Ka and Kb are related by Kw = Ka × Kb, linking the concepts, but the specific measure for a weak base in water is Kb.

In water, the strength of a weak base is described by its base dissociation constant, Kb. The base reacts with water: B + H2O ⇌ BH+ + OH−, and Kb = [BH+][OH−]/[B]. A larger Kb means more OH− is produced, so the base is stronger. Ka is for acids, Kw is the autoionization of water, and Ksp is the solubility product, so they don’t describe a base’s strength. For a conjugate acid–base pair, Ka and Kb are related by Kw = Ka × Kb, linking the concepts, but the specific measure for a weak base in water is Kb.

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