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Acids and Bases There are six strong acids:
hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid
When dissolved in water, an acid
(HNO 3) used in fireworks and
has more hydrogen ions than
explosives, sulfuric acid (H 2SO 4)
regular water and a pH lower than
which is the acid in your car
7.0.
battery, hydrobromic acid (HBr),
Generally, acids are sour in taste, hydroiodic acid (HI), and perchloric
change litmus paper from blue to acid (HClO 4). The record-holder for
red, react with metals to produce a the world’s strongest acid are the
metal salt and hydrogen, react with carborane superacids (over a
bases to produce a salt and water, million times stronger than
and conduct electricity. Strong concentrated sulfuric acid).
acids often produce a stinging
Carborane acids are not highly
feeling on mucus membranes
corrosive even though are super-
(don’t ever taste an acid, or any
strong. Here’s the difference
chemical for that matter!).
between acid strength and
Lots of fruits contain citric acid and corrosiveness: the carborane acid
ascorbic acids, and the distilled is quick to donate protons, making
white vinegar in your kitchen is a it a super-strong acid. However, it
weak form of acetic acid. You’ll find not as reactive (negatively
carbonic acids in sodas, lactic acid charged) as hydrofluoric (HF) acid,
in buttermilk and malic acid in which is so corrosive that it will
apples. dissolve glass, many metals, and
Acids are proton donors (they most plastics.
+
produce H ions). Strong acids and What makes the HF so corrosive is
bases all have one thing in the highly reactive Fl ion. Even
-
common: they break apart though HF is super-corrosive, it’s
(completely dissociate) into ions not a strong acid because it does
when placed in water. This means not completely dissociate (break
-
+
that once you dunk the acid apart into H and Fl ) in water. Do
molecule in water, it splits apart you see the difference?
and does not exist as a whole
Weak acids only partly dissociate in
molecule in water. Strong acids water, such as acetic acid
+
form H and an anion, such as
(CH 3COOH).
sulfuric acid:
On the other hand, bases taste
+
H 2SO 4 H + HSO 4
bitter (again, don’t even think
about putting these in your
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