Question

Which of the following is not a mineral acid?
A. HCl
B. ${H_2}S{O_4}$
C. $HN{O_3}$
D. HCOOH

Answer 1

Mineral acids are defined as those acids which on dissolving in water dissociate to give a hydrogen ion and its conjugate base ion. The strong acids are considered as strong electrolyte which dissociates to give its constituent ions.

Complete step by step answer:
Mineral acids are also known as inorganic acid, which are derived from one or more inorganic compounds. All mineral acids are soluble in water and dissociates to give a hydrogen ion and a conjugate base.
The hydrochloric acid HCl is a strong acid which is soluble in water. It dissolves in water to give its constituent hydrogen ion and chloride ion. The hydrogen ion is a cation with positive charge and the chloride ion is the anion with negative charge.
The reaction is shown below.
$HCl \rightleftharpoons {H^ + } + C{l^ - }$
The sulphuric acid ${H_2}S{O_4}$is a strong acid which dissolves in water to give its constituent hydrogen ion and sulphate ion. The hydrogen ion is a cation with positive charge and sulphate ion is an anion with negative charge.
The reaction is shown below.
${H_2}S{O_4} \rightleftharpoons 2{H^ + } + SO_4^{2 - }$
The nitric acid $HN{O_3}$ dissolves in water to give hydrogen ion and nitrate ion. The hydrogen ion is a cation with positive charge and nitrate ion is anion with negative charge.
The reaction is shown below.
$HN{O_3} \rightleftharpoons {H^ + } + NO_3^ -$
The formic acid HCOOH is a weak acid and it partially dissociates into its constituent ions when dissolved in water.
Thus, formic acid HCOOH is not a mineral acid.
Therefore, the correct option is D.

Note:
Don’t get confused as formic acid HCOOH also gives a hydrogen ion and a formation ion on dissolving in water but it does not fully get dissociated into its ions. Formic acid is a weak electrolyte.