Strong versus Weak Acids

What makes a strong acid strong?

Why?
Acids are substances that surround us in our everyday life. The uses of acids range from providing essential
nutrients for our bodies to dissolving metals. Some acids are safe to handle with our bare hands or even
use in food preparation. Other acids will severely burn human skin. It is important to understand how
these substances can all be acids and yet have such different properties.

Model 1 – Acid Strength and Conductivity

– + + –
–
+ +
– +
+ – –
– +
+ –
+ +
– –

Water molecule
Acid molecule

– +

Note: Excess water molecules in the solutions are not shown.

  1. Examine the symbols in Model 1. Match each symbol with its correct meaning.

______ ______ a.  Water molecule

b.  Acid molecule
______ ______ c.  Conjugate base ion
d.  Hydronium ion

Strong versus Weak Acids 1

   2. Examine the strong and weak acid solutions in Model 1.
a. What product do the solutions have in common?

b. Use a complete sentence to explain the formation of the product in part a from an acid mol-
ecule and a water molecule.

  3. Assume that solutions of HCl and HF similar to those in Model 1 are prepared, and infini-
tesimally small samples are collected and analyzed to determine the amount of ionization that
occurs. Based on the data below, calculate the percent ionization for each acid solution. Solution
A has been completed for you.

Molecules
Initial Number of reacted Percent
Solution number of acid molecules
Initial number ionization
acid molecules that reacted
of molecules
0.06 M 40
A 40 40 — 100%
HCl 40
0.06 M
B 40
HF
0.03 M
C 20
HCl
0.03M
D 20
HF

Read This!
Electrolytes are substances that dissolve in water to produce ions in solution. The presence of ions allows
a solution to conduct an electrical current. Ions may be produced because the substance that dissolves is
ionic (like salt), or because the substance reacts with water to produce ions (as is the case with acids). The
more ions that are formed in solution, the stronger the electrolyte. Nonelectrolytes are substances whose
aqueous solutions do not contain ions and therefore do not conduct an electrical current.

  4. Which solution in Model 1, the strong or weak acid, is a better conductor of electricity? Provide
evidence from Model 1 for your answer.

2 POGIL™ Activities for High School Chemistry

   5. Based on the data in Model 1 and the table in Question 3, describe the relationship between:
a. the percent ionization of the acid and the conductivity of the solution.

b. the conductivity of the solution and the strength of the electrolyte (acid strength).

  6. Consider the conductivity data shown in Model 1 and the ionization data in Question 3.
a. Is HCl a strong acid or a weak acid? Explain in terms of percent ionization.

b. Is HF a strong acid or a weak acid? Explain in terms of percent ionization.

  7. Does a change in concentration affect the strength of an acid? Use the information in Question 3
to provide specific evidence to support your answer.

  8. In one of the reactions in Model 1 there is a single arrow (→). In the other reaction there is a
double arrow (→←). What do these symbols imply:
a. about the extent to which the reaction occurs?

b. about the strength of the acid?

  9. A student states “A solution of 4 M sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is a stronger acid than a 1 M solution
of sulfuric acid.” Construct a well-thought out response to help this student improve his
understanding.

Strong versus Weak Acids 3

 10. In the beaker below, draw a representation to show 10 molecules of a weak acid dissolved in
water with 20% ionization. Include only the water molecules that react, not the excess water
molecules in the solution.
Molecular acid  =  H+ A–

Water = 

11. You have conductivity meters in 1 M solutions of HNO3, HNO2, and HC2H3O2. The 1 M
HNO3 light bulb is bright, the 1 M HNO2 light bulb is giving off some light, and the 1 M
HC2H3O2 is very dim. Rank the solutions in order of acid strength based on this information.

12. Based on your answer to Question 11, write balanced chemical equations for HNO3 and HNO2
reacting with water as they are mixed into an aqueous solution. Use single or double arrows as
appropriate.

4 POGIL™ Activities for High School Chemistry

Extension Questions
Model 2 – The Meaning of Ka

[H O+][A–]
→ H3O+(aq) + A–(aq)  Ka = ————
HA(aq) + H2O(l)  ← 3
[HA]

13. In Model 2, does HA represent a weak acid or a strong acid? What evidence found in the model
supports your answer?

14. Compare the equation above that starts out “Ka =” to other equilibrium constant expressions you
have seen.
a. Is Ka calculated in the same manner as other Keq values?

b. What molecule in the reaction has been left out of the Ka expression? Give a reason why this
molecule was ignored in calculating Ka.

15. Consider what you learned in Model 1 about the extent to which weak acids react with water.
Is the value of Ka for a weak acid likely to be greater than or less than 1? Explain your answer in
terms of the numbers that might be used in the equation in Model 2.

16. Is the value of Ka for a strong acid greater than or less than 1? Explain your answer in terms of
the numbers that might be used in the equation.

17. Consider the weak acid ammonium (NH4+).

a. Write the acid dissociation reaction for NH4+ using Model 1 as your guide. Pay close
attention to the arrow (single or double) you use.

b. Write the Ka expression for HF using Model 2 and your equation above as a guide.

Strong versus Weak Acids 5