Which statement best describes a weak base?

Which statement best describes a weak base?

• A. Ammonia
• B. Sodium hydroxide
• C. Sodium bicarbonate
• D. A base that reacts with water to produce hydroxide ions to only a slight extent

Answer: (D)

Weak bases are bases that do not fully ionize in water; they establish an equilibrium where only a small fraction of base molecules produce hydroxide ions. This partial ionization is why the defining description is that a base reacts with water to form OH− only to a slight extent. Strong bases, like sodium hydroxide, dissociate completely and generate much more OH− in solution. While ammonia and sodium bicarbonate are examples of weak bases, the statement that best captures the general behavior of a weak base is the one describing only a slight production of hydroxide ions.

Weak bases are bases that do not fully ionize in water; they establish an equilibrium where only a small fraction of base molecules produce hydroxide ions. This partial ionization is why the defining description is that a base reacts with water to form OH− only to a slight extent. Strong bases, like sodium hydroxide, dissociate completely and generate much more OH− in solution. While ammonia and sodium bicarbonate are examples of weak bases, the statement that best captures the general behavior of a weak base is the one describing only a slight production of hydroxide ions.