What is the Difference Between Leveling Solvent and Differentiating Solvent

The key difference between leveling solvent and differentiating solvent is that acids completely dissociate into ions when they are in a leveling solvent, whereas acids partially dissociate into ions when they are in differentiating solvents.

We can classify solvents into leveling solvents and differentiating solvents according to their effect on the properties of acids and bases, mainly to the acidic or basic strength of those chemical species.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Leveling Solvent
3. What is a Differentiating Solvent
4. Leveling Solvent vs Differentiating Solvent in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is a Leveling Solvent?

Leveling solvent or leveling effect is the effect of a solvent on the properties of acids and bases. For example, the strength of a strong acid can be limited or levelled by the basicity of the solvent. Therefore, we can level the strength of a strong base by the acidity of the solvent.

Typically, a strong acid dissolves in water and forms hydronium ions upon reaction with water molecules. Acids that are stronger than hydronium ions and tend to react with water molecules to form hydronium ions. In other words, strong acids that are stronger than hydronium ions cannot exist in water. E.g. aqueous perchloric acid can completely ionize in water, and it is a strong acid.

Leveling Solvent vs Differentiating Solvent in Tabular Form

Figure 01: Acid-Base Discrimination

Generally, strong bases are considered as leveling solvents for acids. When there is a leveling solvent, many acids tend to completely dissociate into ions, and therefore, they have the same strength. Moreover, all acids become indistinguishable in strength when they are dissolved in strongly basic solvents due to their greater affinity of the strong bases for protons. We call this phenomenon the leveling effect.

What is a Differentiating Solvent?

Differentiating solvents are chemical solvents that cause various acids to dissociate to different degrees. In other words, acids dissociate partially in differentiating solvents. Therefore, acids have different strengths when they are in these solvents. E.g. anhydrous acetic acid is a solvent and a weak proton acceptor than water. Therefore, strong acids such as hydrochloric acid partially dissociate into ions when they are in this type of solvents. Strong acids show different strengths when they are in this type of solvent.

Difference Between Leveling Solvent and Differentiating Solvent

Leveling solvents and differentiating solvents are two types of solvents categorized according to their effect on the properties of acids and bases, mainly according to the acidic or basic strength of those chemical species. Leveling solvent or leveling effect is the effect of solvent on the properties of acids and bases while differentiating solvents are chemical solvents that cause various acids to dissociate to different degrees. The key difference between leveling solvent and differentiating solvent is that acids completely dissociate into ions when they are in a leveling solvent, whereas acids partially dissociate into ions when they are in differentiating solvents. Moreover, in leveling solvents, the strength of dissociated products is equal, whereas in differentiating solvents, the strength of dissociated products is unequal.

The following infographic summarizes the difference between leveling solvent and differentiating solvent in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Leveling Solvent vs Differentiating Solvent

Leveling solvents and differentiating solvents are two types of solvents categorized according to their effect on properties of acids and bases, mainly to the acidic or basic strength of those chemical species. The key difference between leveling solvent and differentiating solvent is that acids completely dissociate into ions when they are in a leveling solvent, whereas acids partially dissociate into ions when they are in differentiating solvents.