FPGEE for National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) Practice Exam

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Which of the following is considered a strong base?

  1. NH3 (Ammonia)

  2. KOH (Potassium hydroxide)

  3. Al(OH)3 (Aluminum hydroxide)

  4. NaCl (Sodium chloride)

The correct answer is: KOH (Potassium hydroxide)

Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is considered a strong base because it completely dissociates in water to produce hydroxide ions (OH⁻) and potassium ions (K⁺). This property allows it to effectively raise the pH of a solution, making it highly alkaline. Strong bases are characterized by their ability to increase the concentration of hydroxide ions in a solution, which is essential for various chemical reactions, including neutralizing acids and acting as a catalyst. In contrast, ammonia (NH3) is a weak base that does not fully dissociate in water; it establishes an equilibrium with its ammonium ion (NH4⁺) and hydroxide ions. Aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) is also a weak base because it is only slightly soluble in water and does not generate a significant amount of hydroxide ions in solution. Sodium chloride (NaCl) is a neutral salt that does not exhibit basic properties when dissolved in water, as it does not produce hydroxide ions. Hence, potassium hydroxide stands out as the only strong base in the provided options.