Strong acids and strong bases (which we’ll talk about in a minute) all have one thing in common: they break apart (completely dissociate) into ions when placed in water. This means that once you dunk the acid molecule in water, it splits apart and does not exist as a whole molecule in water. Strong acids form H+ and a negative ion


The seven strong acids are: hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO3) used in fireworks and explosives, sulfuric acid (H2SO4) which is the acid in your car battery, hydrobromic acid (HBr), hydroiodic acid (HI), and perchloric acid (HClO4). The record-holder for the world’s strongest acid are the carborane (CAR-bor-ane) superacids (over a million times stronger than concentrated sulfuric acid).


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2 Responses to “Definition and nature of acids and bases”

  1. Yes, you’ll learn about the pH scale, how strong acids are (how much they break apart in solution), and how corrosive they are (not the same as “strength”). Keep watching the videos and it will all make sense!

  2. youngsurrender says:

    Can you only compare acids that are the same to say whether one is more acidic? For example “This lactid acid is more acidic than this one”, or,” This molic acid is more acidic than this molic acid”. Or could you compare lactid to molic acid? Or any other acid.