Question

Can you define a strong base as any soluble ionic OH- compound?

Answer 1

a strong base has to generate hydroxide ions, but it doesn't have to have them in its formula to do so. Sodium hypochlorite is basic, but not because it has a hydroxide ion in it. It rips apart water to form hydroxide, as in:\[NaClO + H_2O \rightarrow HClO + NaOH\] the sodium ion is a spectator, so we can ignore it in the eaution and write\[ClO^{-1} + H_2O \rightarrow HClO + OH^{-1}\] that generates the hydroxide ion and makes the hypochlorite solution basic, even though it doesn't havea hydroxide in its formula.

Most strong bases have hydroxides, but not all of them have to.

Answer 2

Ok that makes sense. Thanks!