Question

HCl gas cannot act as an acid in

• A. Polar solvents
• B. Highly polar solvents
• C. NH₃ liquid
• D. Non-polar solvents.

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Non-polar solvents.

Answer 2

For a substance to act as an acid, it must be able to donate a proton (H⁺). In polar and highly polar solvents, HCl can ionize to form H⁺ and Cl⁻ ions, thus acting as an acid. Liquid ammonia (NH₃) is a polar solvent that can accept protons, so HCl can act as an acid in liquid NH₃ (forming NH₄⁺). In non-polar solvents, HCl molecules remain largely undissociated and do not readily donate protons, hence it cannot act as an acid in such solvents.