Is the protonolysis reaction of sulfuric acid in aqueous solution an example of chemical change?

1 Answer
anor277
Jun 7, 2015

My word it is. Consider the reaction of sulfuric acid with water:

#2H_2SO_4 + 3H_2O rightarrow# #3H_3O^+# + #HSO_4^-# #+# #SO_4^(2-)#.

Bonds are broken, new substances are formed; ergo , this is chemical change.

Explanation:

The ionization of sulfuric acid is quite clearly a chemical change in that it involves the making and breaking of chemical bonds and the formation of new substances. Three new substances result upon ionization: (i) the hydronium ion; (ii) the bisulfate ion; and (iii) the sulfate dianion.

Related questions
See all questions in Physical and Chemical Changes
Impact of this question
4926 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License