Question at position 29 What distinguishes a weak acid from a strong acid?Weak acids completely dissociate into ions in solutionWeak acids have higher acidity than strong acidsWeak acids release more hydrogen ions in water than strong acidsWeak acids only partially ionize in water

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To begin, let's examine what is being asked: what distinguishes a weak acid from a strong acid in aqueous solution.
Option 1: 'Weak acids completely dissociate into ions in solution' This describes strong acids, not weak acids, since strong acids ionize completely while weak acids do not. The claim here contradicts the defining behavior of strong acids, making this option incorrect.
Option 2: 'Weak acids have higher acidity than strong acids' Acidity depends on the extent of dissociation and the resulting hydronium ion concentration; strong acids yield more H3O+ in solution at the same concentration. Therefore, saying weak acids are more acidic is misleading and false for typical concentration comparisons.
Option 3: 'Weak acids release more hydrogen ions in water than strong acids' This would imply a greater degree of ionization for weak acids, which is opposite of the actual situation. Weak acids release fewer H+ ions than strong acids at the same concentration, so this option is incorrect.
Option 4: 'Weak acids only partially ionize in water' This is the fundamental distinction: weak acids establish an equilibrium where only a fraction dissociates into H+ (or H3O+) and A−, leaving undissociated HA molecules in solution. This partial ionization explains their relatively lower degree of dissociation compared to strong acids, aligning with the standard definition of a weak acid.
Across the choices, the core concept hinges on dissociation extent in water. The statement that most accurately captures this characteristic is about partial ionization, not complete dissociation, not higher acidity, and not releasing more hydrogen ions. Thus, the correct interpretation is that weak acids only partially ionize in water.

Question at position 29 What distinguishes a weak acid from a strong acid?Weak acids completely dissociate into ions in solutionWeak acids have higher acidity than strong acidsWeak acids release more hydrogen ions in water than strong acidsWeak acids only partially ionize in water

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