Sodium bicarbonate is classified as a weak base. Strong bases completely dissociate in water, producing a high concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) and increasing the pH significantly.
On the other hand, weak bases like sodium bicarbonate undergo partial dissociation in water, releasing a lower concentration of hydroxide ions resulting in a less dramatic increase in pH.
For comparison, some examples of strong bases include sodium hydroxide(NaOH) and potassium hydroxide(KOH), which dissociate entirely in water creating high pH levels.
