Final answer:
True, a strong acid and a weak base can co-exist in solutions. The strong acid dissociates completely in water, while the weak base partially dissociates, making it possible for them to remain in solution together.
Step-by-step explanation:
A student asked whether a strong acid and a weak base can co-exist in solutions. The correct answer is true. Acids and bases can indeed coexist in a solution, and their reaction tends to move towards a state of neutralization. A strong acid is one that dissociates completely in water, releasing a large amount of hydrogen ions (H+), while a weak base partially dissociates, releasing fewer hydroxyl ions (OH-).
For example, when a strong acid like hydrochloric acid (HCl) is introduced to a solution with a weak base like ammonia (NH3), the reaction will form ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) up to the point where neutralization is achieved, depending on the acid and base concentrations. However, both the strong acid and weak base can coexist in solution because the weak base will not be completely neutralized due to its lower degree of ionization compared to the strong acid, which will have more ions available to react.