Question

Why do weak acid-weak base reactions not go to completion?

Answer 1

Answer: Option (c) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

Weak acid and weak bases are the species that dissociate weakly in a solvent or water.

For example, acetic acid ($CH_{3}COOH$) is a weak acid and it dissociates poorly in water.

Hence, we can say that due to weak dissociation there will less formation of hydrogen or hydroxide ions upon dissociation of weak acid or weak base. Therefore, due to lack of sufficient number of ions the reaction will not go to completion.

Thus, we can conclude that weak acid-weak base reactions not go to completion because neither a weak acid nor a weak base has a strong tendency to transfer $H^+$ ions.

Answer 2

Neither a weak acid nor a weak base has a strong tendency to transfer H+ ions that is why weak acid-weak base reactions not go to completion.