Nitric acid is a strong acid. Does this mean that
a) HNO3 dissociates completely to H+ (aq) and NO3 ^1- (aq) when it dissolves in water
OR
b) aqueous solutions of HNO3 contain equal concentrations of H+(aq) and OH-
(aq)
Thank you!
It means a, not b. In fact, b isn't even close.
The correct answer is a) HNO3 dissociates completely to H+ (aq) and NO3 ^1- (aq) when it dissolves in water.
When nitric acid (HNO3) dissolves in water, it undergoes complete dissociation, meaning that all of the HNO3 molecules will separate into H+ (aq) (hydrogen ions) and NO3 ^1- (aq) (nitrate ions). This is because nitric acid is a strong acid, meaning it ionizes/dissociates completely in water.
To determine whether nitric acid (HNO3) is a strong acid, we need to consider its behavior when it dissolves in water. A strong acid is one that completely dissociates into its constituent ions (H+ and an anion) when dissolved in water.
In the case of nitric acid (HNO3), it does dissociate almost completely in water. Therefore, option a) is the correct answer. When HNO3 dissolves in water, it dissociates into H+ (aq) and NO3^ - (aq) ions. This means that an aqueous solution of HNO3 would contain a high concentration of H+ ions.
On the other hand, option b) refers to the concept of pH, which measures the acidity of a solution. It depends on the balance between H+ and OH- ions. In pure water, there is an equal concentration of H+ and OH- ions, resulting in a neutral pH of 7. However, in the case of nitric acid, the strong HNO3 dissociates to a significant extent, resulting in a higher concentration of H+ ions and lower concentration of OH- ions. Consequently, an aqueous solution of HNO3 would have a low pH, indicating its acidic nature.
In summary, option a) is the correct answer, as nitric acid (HNO3) is a strong acid that dissociates almost completely into H+ (aq) and NO3^ - (aq) when dissolved in water.