Final answer:
Strong acids are acids that ionize completely in water, like HCl, while weak acids only partially ionize, like acetic acid (HC2H3O2). The complete ionization of strong acids makes them strong electrolytes, as opposed to weak acids which are weak electrolytes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Strong acids donate all their hydrogen atoms, or ionize completely in an aqueous solution. Examples of strong acids include hydrochloric acid (HCl), which dissociates entirely into hydrogen and chloride ions. In contrast, weak acids do not ionize completely and only a small percentage of their molecules dissociate to produce ions in a solution. Acetic acid (HC2H3O2), commonly found in vinegar, is one such weak acid that ionizes only partially in an aqueous solution.
The strength of an acid is determined by its ability to donate hydrogen ions (H*). The ionization of a strong acid is represented as a complete reaction, for example:
HC1 (g) → H+ (aq) + Cl¯ (aq)
On the other hand, a weak acid dissociates to a lesser extent, illustrated as a partial dissociation or an equilibrium reaction, like so:
HC2H3O2 (aq) ↔ H+ (aq) + C2H3O2¯ (aq)
This difference in dissociation also means that strong acids are strong electrolytes, while weak acids are weak electrolytes.