Hi,
I know NaOH is a strong base in aqueous solution, it will dissociate into hydroxyde which can bind to H⁺ ions in water thus lowering the pH.
But doesn’t it also fit the definition of an oxyacid (O bonded directly to a non-metal and to a H)?
So how can we say with certainty that it can’t also be called an acid?
Oxyacids, or oxoacids, are a type of acid in which the hydrogen atom is bonded to an oxygen atom, which in turn is bonded to another non-metal atom (often a halogen). The acidic behavior of these compounds arises from the ability of the oxygen atom to stabilize the charge of the ion after the hydrogen (H+) has been donated (which is the characteristic behavior of an acid). Common examples of oxyacids include nitric acid (HNO3), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), and acetic acid (CH3COOH).
In the case of NaOH, the oxygen atom is not bonded directly to a hydrogen atom and a non-metal atom. Instead, it’s bonded to a sodium atom (a metal) and a hydrogen atom. So, despite having an oxygen-hydrogen bond, NaOH doesn’t meet the criteria to be an oxyacid.
thank you it makes sense now!