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Acids, Bases & Salts

Strong Base

A base that dissociates or ionises completely in aqueous solution to give hydroxide ions.

Formula / equation BOH → B⁺ + OH⁻
Unit mol/L

In depth

Group 1 hydroxides are the classic strong bases; group 2 hydroxides are strong but less soluble, so their solutions are limited in concentration. Like strong acids, they are levelled by water, since no base stronger than the hydroxide ion can persist in aqueous solution.

Examples in the real world

NaOH, KOH and Ba(OH)₂; the oxide ion and the amide ion react with water to give hydroxide.