What factors determine acid strength?

1 Answer
Pat B. · Jackie Shlecter
Apr 14, 2014

Acid strength is determined by the amount of that acid that actually ionizes. Acids are molecular covalent compounds which you don't expect to ionize (release an #H^+# and leave behind the conjugate base, or #Cl^-# for example).

The strongest acids ionize 100%. There are 6 that most consider to be the "STRONG" acids: HCl, HI, HBr, HNO_3#, H_2SO_4# and HClO_4#. These split apart 100%.

All other acids are weak acids and ionize to a much lesser amount. For example, acetic acid, like most weak acids, ionizes, 5%.

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