Final answer:
KHP in water is a weak acid. It partially ionizes in solution, which is characteristic of weak acids, unlike a strong acid which would completely ionize. KHP does not act as a base in water.
Step-by-step explanation:
KHP stands for potassium hydrogen phthalate, which is a compound often used in chemistry as a primary standard for acid-base titrations. It is not a base in water, it is an acidic compound. Specifically, it is a weak acid when dissolved in water. A weak acid only partially ionizes in solution, meaning not all of its molecules donate a proton (H+) to the water. This is in contrast to a strong acid, which completely ionizes in water.
Base ionization works differently. A weak base is a base that ionizes only slightly in an aqueous solution, accepting a hydrogen ion from water to form the hydroxide ion. Examples of weak bases include ammonia (NH3) and water itself. However, KHP falls under none of these categories as it acts as a weak acid, not a base.