Which of the fallowing compounds may be Arrhenius acids: CH4, SO2, H2S, Ca3(PO4)2
Can you please explain how you got the answer because I don't understand how you can tell.
To determine whether a compound may be an Arrhenius acid, we need to understand the characteristics of Arrhenius acids.
Arrhenius acids are substances that, when dissolved in water, release hydrogen ions (H+). So, let's analyze each compound to see if it fits this criterion.
1. CH4 (methane):
Methane (CH4) is a covalent compound, and it does not have any hydrogen or hydroxide ions that can dissociate in water. Therefore, CH4 is not an Arrhenius acid.
2. SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is another covalent compound similar to CH4. It also does not have any hydrogen or hydroxide ions that can dissociate in water. Thus, SO2 is not an Arrhenius acid.
3. H2S (hydrogen sulfide):
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) contains hydrogen, and when it dissolves in water, it ionizes to produce hydrogen ions (H+). It can therefore act as an Arrhenius acid.
4. Ca3(PO4)2 (calcium phosphate):
Calcium phosphate is an ionic compound consisting of calcium (Ca2+) and phosphate (PO43-) ions. Ionic compounds tend to dissociate into their constituent ions in water. However, calcium phosphate does not contain hydrogen ions (H+), so it is not an Arrhenius acid.
In conclusion, among the given compounds, only H2S (hydrogen sulfide) can be considered an Arrhenius acid since it can dissociate to produce hydrogen ions (H+) in water.