Levelling effect

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-006542",
  "term": "Levelling effect",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The phenomenon where the strength of a strong acid or base appears to be the same in a given solvent because the solvent completely protonates or deprotonates it. For example, in water, all strong acids are leveled to the strength of the hydronium ion, H3O+. This effect limits the ability to differentiate between the strengths of very strong acids or bases in that solvent.",
  "subject": "Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "Brønsted acid",
    "acidity",
    "conjugate acid-base pair",
    "hydron",
    "lyonium ion",
    "protogenic",
    "protophilic"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1135 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/levelling-effect/"
}