What are the similarities between organic and inorganic acids?

1 Answer
Bio
Dec 23, 2015

They both dissociate partially in water to give #"H"^+# and a conjugate base (the anion).

Explanation:

For example:

Inorganic (Hydrochloric acid)
#"HCl" + "H"_2"O" -> "H"_3"O"^+ + "Cl"^-#

Organic (acetic acid)
#"CH"_3"COOH" + "H"_2"O" rightleftharpoons "H"_3"O"^+ + "CH_3COO"^-#

The difference lies in the conjugate base.

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