STRONG AND WEAK ACIDS HCl is a strong acid. HF is a weak acid. The process of an acid donating a proton to water is called ionization. CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS 1. Is HCl a strong or a weak acid? Is HF a strong or a weak acid? HCL is strong and HF is WEAK
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
HCl is a strong acid, and HF is a weak acid.
Explanation:
The strength of an acid is determined by its ability to ionize completely in water. Strong acids fully dissociate in aqueous solutions, releasing all of their hydrogen ions (H+H^+) into the solution. Weak acids, on the other hand, only partially dissociate, meaning that some of the acid molecules remain in their original form.
HCl (Hydrochloric Acid) – Strong Acid
Hydrochloric acid (HClHCl) is a strong acid because it completely ionizes in water: HCl→H++Cl−HCl \rightarrow H^+ + Cl^-
In this reaction, all HClHCl molecules dissociate into hydrogen ions (H+H^+) and chloride ions (Cl−Cl^-), leaving no undissociated molecules in solution. This complete dissociation results in a high concentration of free H+H^+ ions, making HClHCl a strong acid with a very low pH.
HF (Hydrofluoric Acid) – Weak Acid
Hydrofluoric acid (HFHF) is a weak acid because it does not completely ionize in water. Instead, it establishes an equilibrium between ionized and non-ionized forms: HF⇌H++F−HF \rightleftharpoons H^+ + F^-
Only a small fraction of HFHF molecules release H+H^+ ions, meaning that the solution has a lower concentration of free hydrogen ions compared to strong acids. This partial dissociation occurs because the fluoride ion (F−F^-) strongly attracts the H+H^+ ion, making it harder for HFHF to completely separate.
Key Differences:
- HCl ionizes completely, producing more H+H^+, making it stronger.
- HF ionizes partially, leaving undissociated molecules, making it weaker.
- HCl has a very low pH, while HF has a higher pH compared to strong acids.
This distinction is essential in chemistry because acid strength affects pH, reactivity, and applications in industry and biology.
Now, I’ll generate an image illustrating the difference between strong and weak acids.
Here is an educational diagram comparing strong (HCl) and weak (HF) acids, showing their ionization differences in water. Let me know if you need any modifications!