Strong acids

Definition

Strong acids are substances that completely dissociate into their ions in aqueous solution, resulting in a high concentration of hydrogen ions (H$^+$). This complete dissociation makes strong acids very effective at conducting electricity and reacting with bases.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Examples of strong acids include hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H$_2$SO$_4$), and nitric acid (HNO$_3$).
2. In water, strong acids ionize 100%, meaning they release all of their hydrogen ions.
3. Strong acids have very low pH values, typically less than 3.
4. The strength of an acid is different from its concentration; a diluted strong acid can still be stronger than a concentrated weak acid.
5. Strong acids play crucial roles in various stoichiometric calculations involving neutralization reactions.

Review Questions

Related terms

Weak Acids: Weak acids only partially dissociate into their ions in aqueous solution, resulting in an equilibrium state between the undissociated acid and its ions.

pH Scale:

A logarithmic scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution; lower pH values indicate higher acidity.

Neutralization Reaction: A chemical reaction where an acid and a base react quantitatively with each other to form water and a salt.