What is the difference between the reaction of hydrochloric acid and water amd ethanoic acid and water?

The difference between the reactions of hydrochloric acid and water, and ethanoic acid and water, lies in their chemical properties and reactivity.

First, let's consider hydrochloric acid (HCl) and water (H2O). When hydrochloric acid is added to water, it dissociates into its ions: HCl → H+(aq) + Cl-(aq). This dissociation is quite strong and complete, mainly because hydrochloric acid is a strong acid. As a result, the solution becomes highly acidic due to the excess of H+ ions present.

On the other hand, ethanoic acid (CH3COOH) and water (H2O) form a different type of reaction. Ethanoic acid is a weak acid, meaning it only partially dissociates into its ions in water: CH3COOH + H2O ⇌ CH3COO-(aq) + H3O+(aq). In this case, the equilibrium lies more towards the reactants, and the concentration of H+ ions (or H3O+) remains relatively low compared to hydrochloric acid and water mixture. Consequently, the solution is mildly acidic.

To recap:
- Mixing hydrochloric acid with water results in a strong acid solution due to the complete dissociation of the acid into H+ ions.
- Combining ethanoic acid with water leads to a weak acid solution due to the partial dissociation of the acid resulting in a lower concentration of H+ ions.

Remember, the key difference lies in the strength of the acid and its corresponding dissociation in water.