Levelling Effect and Classification of Solvents

Levelling Effect and Classification of Solvents

In acid-base strength series, all acids above H3O+ in aqueous solution fall to the strength of H3O+. Similarly the basic strength of bases above OH fall to the strength of OHin aqueous solution. This is known as levelling effect. Levelling effect of water is due to its high dielectric constant and strong proton accepting tendency.


(i) Protophilic solvents: Solvents which have greater tendency to accept protons, i.e., water, alcohol, liquid ammonia, etc.


(iii) Amphiprotic solvents: Solvents which act both as protophilic or protogenic, e.g., water, ammonia, ethyl alcohol, etc.

(iv) Aprotic solvents: Solvents which neither donate nor accept protons, e.g., benzene, carbon tetrachloride, carbon disulphide, etc.

HCl acts as acid in H2O, stronger acid in NH3, weak acid in CH3COOH, neutral in C6H6 and a weak base in HF.

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