I've been trying to understand these two questions and I've re-read my textbook a dozen times but I still get confused.
27, A: Which is a stronger acid - sulfuric or carbonic acid? (Answer: Sulfuric acid.)
27, B: Imagine you have two glasses. One contains a solution of carbonic acid. The other contains a solution of sulfuric acid. Without any other information, can you tell which is more corrosive? Explain the reasoning behind your answer.
27, C: What makes an acidic solution corrosive?
7, A: Which is a stronger acid - sulfuric or carbonic acid? (Answer: Sulfuric acid.)
yes, unless you don't know why it's sulfuric acid but 27B will answer that.
27, B: Imagine you have two glasses. One contains a solution of carbonic acid. The other contains a solution of sulfuric acid. Without any other information, can you tell which is more corrosive? Explain the reasoning behind your answer.
Carbonic acid is a weak acid. It ionizes only partially. In fact, not much of it ionizes at all. H2SO4 is a strong acid, meaning that it ionizes 100%. Therefore, H2SO4 is much more corrosive and much more acidic.
27, C: What makes an acidic solution corrosive? This isn't all that good a question for it depends to some extent on which acid we are discussing. In the context of these questions, however, the answer probably is the hydrogen ion, in general, makes an acid corrosive. For additional information, HF is a weak acid (it ionizes only partially) BUT it is highly corrosive because of the fluoride ion.
I believe the answer to part (B) can be found in your text in the chapter on Acid Rain. It that chapter, it states that Carbonic Acid acts in the environment to keep rainwater at a pH of between 5 and 7. It then goes on to dicuss the term acid rain as pertaining to precipitation that has a pH lower than 5. Sulfur dioxide contributes to acid rain, the result of pollutants, as it absorbed into the atmosphere and reacts with water, becoming sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid, in the form of acid rain is responsible for the formation of large caves and other natural features but it is also responsible for billions of dollars of corrosive damage to metal, paint, stone and other exposed substances. It also causes a great deal of damage to the envorionment. So, without knowing anything about the chemical structure... if you've read about acid rain, you'd be able to answer the question.
Let's break down each question to understand them better.
27, A: Which is a stronger acid - sulfuric or carbonic acid? (Answer: Sulfuric acid.)
To determine which acid is stronger, you can compare their acid dissociation constants (Ka) or acidity constants. The Ka is a measure of the extent to which an acid or base reacts with water.
To find the answer, you can refer to your textbook or other reliable sources for the Ka values of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and carbonic acid (H2CO3). Compare their Ka values, and if the sulfuric acid has a higher Ka value, it means it ionizes more completely in water and is therefore a stronger acid.
27, B: Imagine you have two glasses. One contains a solution of carbonic acid. The other contains a solution of sulfuric acid. Without any other information, can you tell which is more corrosive? Explain the reasoning behind your answer.
Without any additional information, it's not possible to determine which acid is more corrosive solely based on their presence in glasses. Corrosiveness depends on various factors, including the concentration of the acid, the materials it comes into contact with, and the reaction kinetics.
In this case, the reasoning behind the answer is that the corrosiveness of an acid is not solely determined by its strength (as mentioned in question 27, A). While sulfuric acid is stronger than carbonic acid, it doesn't mean sulfuric acid is more corrosive in all situations. The corrosiveness also depends on the reaction mechanism and the substances with which the acid interacts.
27, C: What makes an acidic solution corrosive?
An acidic solution is corrosive because it has the ability to react with and damage other materials. Corrosiveness is typically associated with acids due to their ability to donate protons (H+) and cause chemical reactions that break down other substances.
The main reason for the corrosiveness of acidic solutions is their ability to catalyze oxidation reactions. Acids can enhance the rates of oxidation reactions by providing hydrogen ions that can facilitate the breaking of chemical bonds. This can lead to the degradation of the material being corroded.
Additionally, acids can react with metals, forming metal ions and releasing hydrogen gas, which further contributes to corrosion. The corrosiveness of an acidic solution can also be influenced by its concentration, temperature, and the specific chemical properties of the substances involved.
Understanding these concepts will help you grasp the differences between the acids' strengths and their corrosiveness. Additionally, further research in reputable sources, discussing with peers or seeking clarification from your instructor could provide you with a deeper understanding of these topics.