210k views
2 votes
If you place a strong acid in water it will likely ionize. If you put the same acid in oil it will not. Why the difference?

User Plamut
by
6.3k points

1 Answer

6 votes

Answer

An acid that breaks down completely and gives off many ions, or protons, is considered to be a strong acid. ex H₂SO₄

If you place strong acid into water it dissociate acid into H⁺ ions

Water is polar solvent(H⁺ and OH⁻), which has partial positive charge on one side and partial negative charge on the other side.

Strong acids readily dissociate in polar solvents to give H+ ions.

Where as Oil is a non polar solvent it has same charge all over so no dissociation of strong acid will take place.

User Ash Das
by
5.8k points