Question

Comment on the electrical neutrality of strong acids. What is the equilibrium that defines the strength of an acid?

Answer 1

All bulk materials are electrically neutral............

Explanation:

The parent acids, `HX`, `HNO_3`, `HClO_4`, `H_2SO_4`, `HOAc`............are all neutral entities. Of course in aqueous solution (and most of them are supplied as aqueous solutions), the following equilibrium occurs:

`HX(aq) + H_2O(l) rightleftharpoonsH_3O^(+) + X^-`

For stronger acids, the equilibrium lies to the RIGHT; for weaker acids the equilibrium lies to the LEFT as we face the page. The `"hydronium ion"`, `H_3O^+`, is conceived to be the `"acidium species"` in solution, a cluster of water molecules with an EXTRA `H^+`, i.e. `H_7O_3^+`, or `H_9O_4^+`; the extra `H^+` moves, or tunnels if you like as does a ball in a rugby maul. We write `H^+` or `H_3O^+` for convenience. Of course, with this positively charged species, there is a correpsonding negatively charged species, an anion.

There are other solvent systems we could use, but water is clearly the most convenient.