When acid molecules are dissolved in water, they ionize. This means that the acid molecules break up into positive and negative ions. The extent to which an acid breaks up into ions when dissolved in water determines the strength of the acid.
Strong Acids
Strong acids ionize completely in water. In other words, ALL of the acid molecules break up into positive and negative ions when a strong acid is dissolved in water.
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When acid molecules are dissolved in water, they ionize. This means that the acid molecules break up into positive and negative ions. The extent to which an acid breaks up into ions when dissolved in water determines the strength of the acid.
Strong Acids
Strong acids ionize completely in water. In other words, ALL of the acid molecules break up into positive and negative ions when a strong acid is dissolved in water.
Example: Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong acid because all of the HCl molecules break up into `~H^+` and `~Cl^-` ions when dissolved in water.
`~HCl_(aq) -gt~H^+_(aq) + ~Cl^-_(aq)`
Weak Acids
Weak acids partially ionize in water. This means that only SOME of the acid molecules break up into positive and negative ions when a weak acid is dissolved in water.
Example: Acetic acid (`~HC_2H_3O_2` ) is a weak acid because only some of the `~HC_2H_3O_2` molecules break up into `~H^+` and `~C_2H_3O_2^-` ions when dissolved in water.
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Notice that the disassociation of a weak acid into its ions is reversible. This means that the disassociated ions are able to reform the original molecule. ` `
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