Question
Question: Which has higher concentration of \( {H^ + } \) ions \( 1M \) \( HCl \) or \( 1M \) \( C{H_3}COOH \)...
Which has higher concentration of H+ ions 1M HCl or 1M CH3COOH ?
Solution
The higher concentration of H+ ions depends upon the acid's ability to dissociate into the aqueous solution. This ability to dissociate ions further depends upon whether the acid is a strong acid or a weak acid.
Complete answer:
Here the given molar solution is the same in amount, therefore it will not have an effect on the concentration of the H+ ions. As mentioned in the hint, one must see whether an acid is strong or weak acid because the strong acid will dissociate completely in the aqueous solution whereas the weak acid will dissociate partially.
One must know what acid dissociation or acid dissociation constant mean. It is a quantitative measure of the strength of an acid in solution. It is also known as the acidity constant or acid-ionisation constant. HCl is a strong acid. HCl with one ionisable hydrogen will be completely ionized in aqueous solutions, therefore the hydrogen ion concentration of these solutions is equal to the molar concentration of the acid. When 1M HCl is dissolved in 1L of water, 1M of H+ and 1M of Cl− is formed by dissociation.
The hydrogen ion concentration of an aqueous solution of a weak acid depends on the value of its acid dissociation constant and is always less than the value of concentration of the weak acid. Since acetic acid is a weak ionises into hydrogen ion concentration, but only a small fraction of the molecule. Most of it remains un-ionised acetic acid . The acid dissociation constant is much less than 1M
Therefore HCl will have higher concentration of H+ ions.
Note:
Acids, bases and salts dissociate into electrolytes when placed in water. Acids dissociate into H+ ions, bases dissociate into OH− ions and salts dissociate into a cation and an anion. Also the acid strength is solvent dependent.