Question #7231b

1 Answer
Feb 27, 2017

I assume you are referring to protons that are ionisable in acid-base processes. If so, the answer is two. One ionizes strongly, the other more weakly.

Explanation:

A molecule of sulfuric acid, #H_2SO_4# has two protons that can ionize (transfer to a base).

The first ionization is strong, meaning that it occurs to an extent of 100% in water:

#H_2SO_4 + H_2O rarr H_3O^+ + HSO_4^-#

The second ionization is weaker (#K_a = 1.2 xx 10^(-2)#):

#HSO_4^- ##+ H_2O rarr H_3O^+ + SO_4^(2-)#