How does #HCl# act as a strong acid?

1 Answer
Sep 16, 2017

Its ionization in aqueous solution is reasonably complete.....

Explanation:

And thus for #HCl(aq)#, the following equilibrium......

#HCl(aq) + H_2O(l) rightleftharpoons H_3O^+ + Cl^-#

Lies almost entirely to the right........

...and #K_a=([H_3O^+][Cl^-])/([HCl(aq)])# IS NUMERICALLY LARGE.