Which statement correctly defines a strong base?

Which statement correctly defines a strong base?

• A. A base that accepts protons
• B. A base that does not dissociate
• C. A base that dissociates completely to produce hydroxide ions
• D. A base that changes color in solution

Answer: (C)

A strong base is defined by how it behaves in water: it dissociates completely to form a large amount of hydroxide ions. This complete ionization means the solution has a high OH– concentration, giving a very high pH and strong basicity. While bases can be described as substances that accept protons in general, that description doesn’t specify how fully they ionize in solution, which is what distinguishes a strong base from a weak one. The idea of a base not dissociating or merely changing color in solution isn’t related to how effectively it produces OH– ions, so those options don’t capture what makes a base strong.

A strong base is defined by how it behaves in water: it dissociates completely to form a large amount of hydroxide ions. This complete ionization means the solution has a high OH– concentration, giving a very high pH and strong basicity. While bases can be described as substances that accept protons in general, that description doesn’t specify how fully they ionize in solution, which is what distinguishes a strong base from a weak one. The idea of a base not dissociating or merely changing color in solution isn’t related to how effectively it produces OH– ions, so those options don’t capture what makes a base strong.