Properties of Aqueous Acids

Introduction 

Solution in which the solvent is water is an aqueous solution. In chemical equations it is represented by appending (aq) to the relevant formula. The other synonyms of aqueous are similar to , pertaining to, related to, or dissolved in water. In chemistry water is the omnipresent solvent as it is an excellent solvent as well as it is available in abundance in nature.

Properties of Aqueous Acids

• Aqueous acids has a sour taste
• Acids strong in nature and high in concentrations are responsible for harsh or strong feeling on noses
• To indicators it reacts turning methyl orange  & blue litmus red, color of phenolphthalein does not change
• Hydrogen & metal salt is produced on reaction with metals
• Produces water, salt & CO₂ on reaction with metal carbonates.

       Let us take an example as

NaOH + HCl   `->` NaCl + H₂O

In the above reaction, the H⁺ from aqueous acid HCl and the OH^- from the base NaOH, reacts to produce water molecule.Infact this reaction is also termed as neutralization reaction, as an aqueous acid acts upon with a base to produce or to give water and salt.

• Water & salt is produced on reaction with a base
• Produces water and a salt on reaction with metal oxide
• Depending on the dissociation (degree) will conduct electricity
• Hydronium (H₃O+) ions (solvonium ions) are produced in water
• Responsible for denaturing proteins

Reaction of Acid and Water

Common aqueous acids, from weakest to strongest are acetic acid (CH₃COOH) , carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) , hydrochloric acid (HCl).

H₂O + HCl `->` H₃O⁺+ Cl^-

In dilute water solutions of strong acids like perchloric, hydrochloric and sulfuric, act essentially as solutions of H₃O⁺  ions and the acidity gains in relation to the concentration. At greater concentrations, more than one molar (which is, one mole acid for each litre of the solution), yet, the acidity, as considered or measured by the action on catalytic ability or the indicators, increases much quickly than the given concentration. For an example, if we consider 10 molar solution of some strong acid, then it is about 1,000 times as acidic as a 1 molar solution.

Conclusion for of Aqueous Acids

From the discussion, we conclude that aqueous acids play an important role in laboratory experiments and research and they have unique properties as listed above.