Why hydrochloric acid is a strong acid

This page was constructed from content via the following contributor s and edited topically or extensively by the LibreTexts development team to meet platform style, presentation, and quality:. Learning Objectives Define a strong and a weak acid and base. Recognize an acid or a base as strong or weak. Determine if a salt produces an acidic or a basic solution. It can be used as an adjective to describe the concentration of a solution as here , or as a verb to describe the process of adding more water to a solution to decrease its concentration.

The hydrogen ions are produced when the acid dissociates or breaks down to form ions. Strong acids completely dissociate into ions in solution. For example, hydrochloric acid is a strong acid. It ionises completely to form hydrogen ions and chloride ions:. Nitric acid and sulfuric acid are also strong acids.

Weak acids only partially dissociate in solution. For example, ethanoic acid is a weak acid. Key Points Strong acids can catalyze chemical reactions. Strong acids are defined by their pKa. The acid must be stronger in aqueous solution than a hydronium ion, so its pKa must be lower than that of a hydronium ion. Strong acids can be organic or inorganic.

Strong acids must be handled carefully because they can cause severe chemical burns. Strong acids are essential for catalyzing some reactions, including the synthesis and hydrolysis of carbonyl compounds. Show Sources Boundless vets and curates high-quality, openly licensed content from around the Internet. Licenses and Attributions.