Question

Two solutions are made, each with a concentration of 0.10 mol/L. One contains hydrobromic acid, and one contains phosphoric acid. The more acidic solution contains ________ as an acid because________.

a) HBr because more hydronium ions are made when it ionizes in water
b) HBr because the pH of the solution will be higher
c) H3PO4 because more hydronium ions are made when it ionizes in water
d) H3PO4 because there are more hydrogens in the original chemical formula

Answer 1

The more acidic solution is the one containing HBr because it is a strong acid and completely dissociates in water, leading to a higher concentration of hydronium ions compared to the weakly ionized phosphoric acid at the same concentration.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is: (a) HBr because more hydronium ions are made when it ionizes in water. Comparing hydrobromic acid (HBr) with phosphoric acid (H3PO4), we find that HBr is a strong acid and dissociates completely in water, producing a greater concentration of hydronium ions (H3O+). In contrast, phosphoric acid is a weak acid and does not completely ionize, resulting in fewer hydronium ions compared to HBr at equal concentrations. Since the acidity of a solution is determined by the concentration of hydronium ions, the solution containing HBr will be the more acidic one.

The more acidic solution is the one containing HBr because it is a strong acid and completely dissociates in water, leading to a higher concentration of hydronium ions compared to the weakly ionized phosphoric acid at the same concentration.