SDSU Chemistry Placement Practice Test

In the context of acids, strength is determined by the extent to which an acid donates protons (H₂ ions) in a solution. Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is considered the strongest acid among the options listed due to its ability to fully dissociate into its ions in aqueous solution. When H2SO4 dissociates, it produces two protons (H₂) for every molecule of acid, making it a diprotic acid. The first dissociation step is strong and essentially complete, while the second dissociation, although weaker, still contributes to the overall acidity. This results in a higher concentration of available H₂ ions compared to the other acids listed. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong acid as well, but it only generates one proton per molecule. Nitric acid (HNO3) is also a strong acid, fully dissociating into H₂ and NO3₂ ions, but it still does not match the overall proton donation capacity of H2SO4. Acetic acid (CH3COOH) is a weak acid, only partially dissociating in solution, which significantly reduces its acidity compared to strong acids. Thus, due