Strong and weak acids
Strong and weak acids
Formula
Ka = [H⁺][A⁻] / [HA]
Real World
Vinegar (ethanoic acid, Ka ≈ 1.8 × 10⁻⁵) stings but doesn't burn skin, whereas hydrochloric acid of the same concentration would cause serious damage because it fully dissociates, releasing far more H⁺ ions.
Exam Focus
Use a single arrow (→) for strong acids and an equilibrium arrow (⇌) for weak acids — wrong arrow loses marks.
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