Table of Strong Acids and Strong Bases


Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrochloric acid, HCl.

This is a list of the strong acids and strong bases. There aren’t very many, so it’s a good idea to memorize them, if you can.

Table of Strong Acids

The strong acids ionize completely in water to yield or or more protons per acid molecule.

NameFormulaIonization
hydrogen iodide or hydroiodic acidHIH+(aq) + I(aq)
hydrogen bromide or hydrobromic acidHBrH+(aq) + Br(aq)
perchloric acidHClO4H+(aq) + ClO4(aq)
hydrochloric acidHClH+(aq) + Cl(aq)
chloric acidHClO3H+(aq) + ClO3(aq)
sulfuric acidH2SO4H+(aq) + HSO4(aq)*
nitric acidHNO3H+(aq) + NO3(aq)

* HSO4 is a weak acid that contributes additional protons.

Table of Strong Bases

The strong bases ionize completely in water to yield or or more hydroxides per base molecule.

NameFormulaIonization
sodium hydroxideNaOHNa+(aq) + OH(aq)
potassium hydroxideKOHK+(aq) + OH(aq)
lithium hydroxideLiOHLi+(aq) + OH(aq)
rubidium hydroxideRbOHRb+(aq) + OH(aq)
cesium hydroxideCsOHCs+(aq) + OH(aq)
calcium hydroxideCa(OH)2Ca2+(aq) + 2OH(aq)
barium hydroxideBa(OH)2Ba2+(aq) + 2OH(aq)
strontium hydroxideSr(OH)2Sr2+(aq) + 2OH(aq)

Calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, and strontium hydroxide are not very soluble in water.