Question

HCl, HNO₃, C₂H₅OH, C₆H₁₂O₆ all contain H atoms but only HCI and HNO₃ show acidic character. Why?

Answer 1

Although C₂H₅OH and C₆H₁₂O₆ contain hydrogen atoms, their aqueous solutions lack acidity due to the absence of hydrogen ions [H⁺(aq) ions] during dissolution.

When dissolved in water, only HCl and HNO₃ create hydrogen ions [H⁺(aq) ions]³ and have an acidic nature.

\[\ce{HCl_{( aq)}-> H+_{( aq)} + Cl-_{( aq)}}\]

\[\ce{HNO3_{( aq)}-> H+_{( aq)}+ NO3-_{( aq)}}\]