Strong vs weak acids

Cards (21)

  • What is the pH of aqueous solutions formed by acids?
    Less than seven
  • Why do acids have a pH of less than seven?
    They ionize to release hydrogen ions
  • What ions does hydrochloric acid dissociate into?
    H<sup>+</sup> and Cl<sup>-</sup>
  • What ions does nitric acid dissociate into?
    H<sup>+</sup> and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>
  • What defines strong acids?
    They ionize completely in solution
  • How do weak acids differ from strong acids in ionization?
    Weak acids do not fully ionize
  • What does it mean for the ionization of a weak acid to be reversible?
    Equilibrium exists between undissociated and dissociated forms
  • What does a double arrow in a chemical equation indicate?
    The reaction is reversible
  • What does it mean when we say the equilibrium lies to the left for weak acids?
    More undissociated acid than dissociated acid
  • How is acid strength different from acid concentration?
    Strength is about ionization proportion
  • What does concentration measure in relation to acids?
    Amount of acid in a certain volume
  • Can strong acids be found in low concentrations?
    Yes, strong acids can be dilute
  • What is pH a measure of?
    Concentration of hydrogen ions in solution
  • How does pH change with hydrogen ion concentration?
    Higher hydrogen ion concentration lowers pH
  • What does a decrease of one on the pH scale represent?
    Hydrogen ion concentration increases by a factor of 10
  • If pH changes from 5 to 3, how much does hydrogen ion concentration increase?
    By 100 times
  • If pH changes from 8 to 11, how does hydrogen ion concentration change?
    Decreases by a factor of 1,000
  • How can a strong acid achieve a low pH?
    By fully dissociating at most concentrations
  • What must a weak acid be to achieve a low pH?
    Highly concentrated
  • At any given concentration, how does the pH of strong acids compare to weak acids?
    Strong acids have a lower pH than weak acids
  • What determines the pH of a solution?
    The concentration of hydrogen ions