List of Strong Acids: Properties & Uses of Strong Acids

Strong Acids are those acids that dissociate completely to produce a large number of Hydrogen (H⁺) ions when dissolved in water. Acids are defined as ionic compounds that produce positive hydrogen ions (H+) to another compound. 

There are a total of seven Strong Acids. List of Strong Acids is as follows: 

1. Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄)
2. Hydrochloric Acid (HCL)
3. Hydroiodic Acid (HI)
4. Nitric Acid (HNO₃)
5. Hydrobromic Acid (HBr)
6. Chloric Acid (HClO₃)
7. Perchloric Acid (HClO₄)

These acids are classified as strong acids as they dissociate completely into their constituent ions when dissolved in water, which includes their anionic conjugate base and a proton.

Check out: Importance of pH testing in everyday life

Key Terms: Strong Acids, Chloric Acid, Hydrobromic Acid, Hydrochloric Acid, Hydroiodic Acid, Nitric Acid, Perchloric Acid, Sulfuric Acid

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What are Acids?

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Acids are chemical substances that are capable of donating a hydrogen ion (H⁺) to other substances. 

• Acids release hydrogen ions (H⁺) when combined with water. 
• They have a pH of less than 7.0 and react with bases to form Salts. 
• Acids are sticky in nature and sour in taste. 
• Acids turn blue litmus paper into red. 
• On exposure to acids, Phenolphthalein remains colorless.
• Acids can be solid, liquid, or gaseous.
• Acetic Acid, Sulfuric Acid, Hydrochloric Acid, Salicylic Acid, etc are examples of Acids.

What are Acids?

Acids are classified into two major types on the basis of ion dissociation in water:

• Strong Acids: Strong acids dissociate completely into ions in the water.
• Weak Acids: Weak acids dissociate partially into ions in water. 

Read More: Importance of pH in Everyday Life

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What are Strong Acids?

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Strong Acids are the acids that dissociate their H⁺ ions completely in water or an aqueous solution.

• When a strong acid is combined with water, it will dissociate into its hydrogen ions and anions. 
• In simpler terms, all the molecules of a strong acid break in a solution.
• Strong acids do not necessarily need to have high corrosive power or be strong in nature.
• Strong acids yield at least one positive hydrogen ion (H⁺) per molecule. 
• There are only seven strong acids in Chemistry. 
• Examples: Hydrochloric Acid, Sulfuric Acid, Chloric Acid, etc. 

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List of Strong Acids 

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There are only seven acids that dissociate H⁺ ions completely in dissolution with water. Hence, only these seven acids are considered to be Strong Acids. The List of Strong Acids is given below: 

1. Chloric Acid (HClO₃)
2. Hydrobromic Acid (HBr)
3. Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)
4. Hydroiodic Acid (HI)
5. Nitric Acid (HNO₃)
6. Perchloric Acid (HCLO₄)
7. Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄)

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Chloric Acid

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Chloric Acid is a highly reactive chemical compound with the formula HClO₃. 

• It is an oxoacid of chlorine and has one hydrogen atom, one chlorine atom, and three oxygen atoms.
• Of the three oxygen atoms, two are double-bonded with the chlorine atom.
• The remaining one shares one of its bonds with hydrogen and the other with chlorine.
• HCLO₃ also acts as oxidizing agent and is also considered thermodynamically unstable

Properties of Chloric Acid

• The molecular weight of HCLO₃ is 84.45914 g/mol.
• HCLO₃ appears as a colorless solution.
• HCLO₃ is also a powerful oxidizing agent.

Use of Chloric Acid

• HCLO₃ is used as a chemical reagent in chemical analysis and is hence used to make other chemicals.
• It is used to make chlorate salts such as sodium, calcium, etc.
• It is also used for household cleaning, the production of gelatine and other food additives, etc. 

Read More: Acids Bases and Salt Revision Notes

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Hydrobromic Acid

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Hydrobromic Acid is a solid acid formed when hydrogen bromide is dissolved in water. It has the chemical formula HBr.

• It has an acid dissociation constant of magnitude −9.
• There is a single bond between a Hydrogen atom and a Bromide atom in Hydrobromic Acid.
• It is one of the most potent known mineral acids.
• HBr is a diatomic molecule and is highly soluble in water.
• Hydrobromic Acid is also highly corrosive in nature.

Properties of Hydrobromic Acid

• The molecular weight of HBr is 80.9119 g/mol.
• HBr is highly soluble in water.
• It is a stronger acid when compared to hydrochloric acid. 

Uses of Hydrobromic Acid

• It is used for the production of certain inorganic bromides, especially calcium, zinc, and sodium bromides.
• It is a very good reagent for the processing of organobromine compounds.
• HBr is used in sanitizers or disinfecting agents.
• HBr is also used as a catalyst in certain alkylation reactions that have applications in the extraction of ores.

Strong and Weak Acids 

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Hydroiodic Acid

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Hydroiodic Acid is the second strongest hydrogen and halogen acid.

• It is denoted by the formula HI.
• It is a widely used chemical reagent and is a highly acidic solution of hydrogen iodide and water.
• It also totally ionizes when introduced into an aqueous solution.

Properties of Hydroiodic Acid

• The molar mass of HI is 127.911 g/mol.
• HI appears as a colorless solution and has a slightly acrid odor. 
• It has a density of 1.7 grams per milliliter under standard conditions.
• HI has a boiling point of 400 Kelvin or 127 degrees Celsius. 

Uses of Hydroiodic Acid

• It is a widely used chemical reagent. 
• HI is also used as a catalyst.

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Hydrochloric Acid

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Hydrochloric Acid is a colorless acid with the chemical formula HCl.

• It is also known as muriatic acid.
• It is a corrosive acid that has the most basic acidic system containing chlorine and water.
• It is highly acidic and has the ability to cause damage to the skin.
• It is one of those acids that play a significant role in biology.
• Gastric acid contains HCl as a natural component (the acid that is formed naturally in the digestive tracts of almost all animals).
• It is produced naturally by the human digestive system as it aids in food digestion.

Properties of Hydrochloric Acid

• The molar mass of HCl is 36.458 g/mol.
• HCl is a colorless and inorganic acid. 
• It has a very pungent odor.

Uses of Hydrochloric Acid

• HCl is used in the purification of table salt.
• It is also used in the production of oil.
• HCl is used as a cleaning agent.
• HCl is used in the production of Organic and Inorganic Compounds.
• HCl is also used as Gastric Acid which further helps in the digestion of food in animals.

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Nitric Acid

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Nitric Acid is a highly corrosive as well as toxic mineral acid with the formula HNO₃.

• It is also known as Spirit of Nitre and Aqua Fortis.
• Nitric acid turns from a colorless solution to yellow on decomposition.
• It reacts easily with metals, hydroxides, and oxides to produce Nitrate salts.
• It is used as a strong oxidizing agent.

Properties of Nitric Acid

• The molar mass of HNO₃ is 63.012 g/mol.
• HNO₃ has a pungent and suffocating odor.
• It exists as a colorless, yellow, or yellowish-red liquid.
• It has a melting point of 231 Kelvin and a boiling point of 394 Kelvin.

Uses of Nitric Acid

• HNO₃ is used in the production of fertilizers and polymers.
• It is also used in the production of explosives.
• It is used in the manufacturing of plastic, dyes, and fertilizers.
• HNO₃ is used as an oxidizer in liquid-fuelled rockets.
• In electrochemistry, HNO₃ is used as a chemical doping agent.

Read More: Acids Bases and Salt Important Questions

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Perchloric Acid

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Perchloric Acid is a strong acid with the formula HClO_4.

• It is a very powerful mineral acid that has four oxygen atoms, one chlorine atom, and one hydrogen atom.
• One of the oxygen atoms pairs one of its bonds with hydrogen and the other bond it shares with chlorine.
• The remaining three oxygen atoms share a double bond with chlorine.
• HClO₄ is usually found as an aqueous solution and is stronger than nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and hydrochloric acid.

Properties of Perchloric Acid

• The molar mass of HCIO₄ is 100.46 g/mol.
• It is a mineral acid. 
• HCIO₄ appears as a colorless solution.

Uses of Perchloric Acid

• HClO₄ is used in the plating of metals.
• It is a very potent oxidizer in its dry form.
• It is also used in the production of explosives.
• It is used as rocket fuel.

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Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄)

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Sulphuric Acid is a colorless, odorless, greasy liquid with high corrosiveness. It has the chemical formula H₂SO₄. Sulphuric acid consists of four oxygen atoms, two hydrogen atoms, and one Sulphur atom. 

• Sulphuric acid is also called as King of Chemicals because of its wide range of applications.
• It is also referred to as Vitriol Oil or Oil of Vitriol.
• It can be found in combined as well as in the free states.
• Sulphuric acid is also a hygroscopic substance.
• It quickly collects water vapor from the air.
• Sulphuric acid can inflict serious chemical burns and even secondary thermal burns.
• This is why it is regarded to be extremely harmful even in low quantities.

Properties of H₂SO₄

• The molar mass of H₂SO₄ is 98.079 g/mol.
• H₂SO₄ acid is colorless, thick, and oily fluid.
• It is highly corrosive, reactive, and soluble in water.
• H₂SO₄ acts as an oxidizing agent and has low volatility. 
• It also acts as a very strong dehydrating agent.

Use of H₂SO₄

• H₂SO₄ is used in the production of fertilizers such as Ammonium Sulphate.
• It is also used in the production of explosives such as TNT.
• H₂SO₄ is used in the manufacturing of shades, dyes, and paints.
• It is used as a Pickling agent.

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Factors Determining Strength of Acids

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Strength of an Acid is determined by the following factors: 

• Atomic Radius: Acidic nature increases with increasing atomic radius.
• Electronegativity: Strength of acid increases with increasing electronegativity.
• Electrical Charge: Higher acidity results from the increasing positive charge of the acid.
• Equilibrium: When an acid dissociates, it achieves equilibrium with its conjugate base. The equilibrium significantly favors the product or is to the right of a chemical equation in the case of strong acids.
• Solvent: Strong acids are usually considered in connection to water as a solvent in most applications. 

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Things to Remember

• Strong Acids are those acids that are completely dissociated in an aqueous solution or water.
• There are seven strong acids in Chemistry. 
• List of Strong Acids includes Hydrochloric Acid, Nitric Acid, Sulfuric Acid, Hydrobromic Acid, Chloric Acid, Hydroiodic Acid, and Perchloric Acid.
• The pKa value of an acid determines how strong it is.
• Strong acids have a pKa value of less than -174.
• Strong acids can inflict severe chemical burns, thus, they must be handled with caution.