Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Weak bases are substances that can accept protons (H+ ions) but only partially dissociate in water. They do not completely ionize like strong bases such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
Related terms
Acid-base reaction: A chemical reaction involving the transfer of protons from one substance (acid) to another substance (base).
Conjugate acid-base pair: Two species related by donating or accepting a proton. In an acid-base reaction, when one species loses a proton (becomes an acid), another species gains that proton and becomes its conjugate base.