Acid Strength

What is an acid?

An acid is a substance that produces hydrogen ions, H⁺, when dissolved in aqueous solution.

Acid Strength

Acid strength refers to how easily an acid dissociates when dissolved in water.

Strong acid

Strong acid is one that undergoes complete dissociation to form ions in water.

In a solution of a strong acid, all molecules dissociate to become ions in water.

Examples include Nitric acid (HNO₃), Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄)

Weak acid

Weak acid is one that undergoes partial dissociation to form ions in water.

In a solution of a weak acid, few acid molecules dissociate to become ions in water.

Examples include Ethanoic acid/Acetic acid (CH₃COOH ) and Citric acid (C₆H₈O₇ )