When dissolved in water, what does acids produce?

Question

3721 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2016-12-14T23:48:19

By definition, acids produce hydronium ions............

Get an acid, any acid, and when dissolved in water the following equilibrium reaction occurs:

#HA(aq) + H_2O(l)rightleftharpoons H_3O^(+) + A^(-)(aq)#

The STRONGER the acid, the FARTHER to the right the given equilibrium operates.

And, #K_a#, #"the acid dissociation constant"# operates:

#K_a=([H_3O^+][A^-])/([HA])#

Clearly, the stronger the acid, and the higher the value of #K_a#, the farther to the right the given equilibrium operates.

Strong acids, #H_2SO_4#, #HX (X=Cl, Br, I), HNO_3, HClO_4# give equilibria that are strongly to the right. Capisce?