Strong and weak acids

• What is a strong acid?

  Acids that fully ionize in aqueous solutions
• Give an example of a strong acid.

  Hydrochloric acid
• What happens to acid molecules in aqueous solutions?

  They ionize and release hydrogen ions
• What is the special term for when an acid molecule splits?

  Ionization
• How do we know hydrochloric acid is a strong acid?

  It fully ionizes in aqueous solutions
• Name three examples of strong acids.

  Hydrochloric, sulfuric, and nitric acids
• What characterizes a weak acid?

  It partially ionizes in aqueous solutions
• Give an example of a weak acid.

  Carbonic acid
• Name three examples of weak acids.

  Carbonic, ethanolic, and citric acids
• How does the pH scale relate to strong and weak acids?

  Strong acids have lower pH than weak acids
• Why do strong acids have a lower pH than weak acids?

  They fully ionize, producing more hydrogen ions
• What happens to hydrogen ion concentration as pH decreases?

  It increases by 10 times for each unit
• What is meant by one order of magnitude in pH?

  A 10 times difference in hydrogen ion concentration
• How does a pH of 1 compare to a pH of 3?

  pH 1 has 100 times more hydrogen ions
• What does the concentration of an acid indicate?

  The amount of acid molecules in a volume
• What is the difference between a dilute and a concentrated acid?

  A dilute acid has fewer acid molecules
• Can the strength of an acid affect its concentration?

  No, strength and concentration are different
• What are the characteristics of strong and weak acids?

  • Strong acids fully ionize in aqueous solutions
  • Weak acids partially ionize in aqueous solutions
  • Strong acids have lower pH than weak acids
  • Concentration affects the amount of acid molecules
• What is the relationship between pH and hydrogen ion concentration?

  • Lower pH means higher hydrogen ion concentration
  • A decrease of 1 in pH increases concentration by 10 times
  • A decrease of 2 in pH increases concentration by 100 times
• What is the difference between dilute and concentrated acids?

  • Dilute acids have fewer acid molecules
  • Concentrated acids have more acid molecules
  • Strength of acid can be the same in both cases