Answer :
To identify the strongest acid among the given options, we need to understand the general concept of acid strength. Acid strength is often measured by the acid's ability to dissociate in water, resulting in the release of hydrogen ions. Strong acids dissociate completely in water, while weak acids do not.
Here's a breakdown of each acid listed:
1. [tex]$C_6H_5OH$[/tex] (phenol): This is a weak acid because it does not fully dissociate in solution.
2. [tex]$HClO$[/tex] (hypochlorous acid): This is a weak acid. It does not dissociate completely in water.
3. [tex]$HCN$[/tex] (hydrocyanic acid): This is a weak acid, known for its limited dissociation in water.
4. [tex]$HCl$[/tex] (hydrochloric acid): This is a strong acid. It dissociates completely in water, making it a very strong acid.
5. [tex]$HF$[/tex] (hydrofluoric acid): While often considered stronger than many organic acids, it is still a weak acid and doesn't fully dissociate in water due to the strong hydrogen-fluorine bond.
Based on their dissociation ability and general strength, the strongest acid from the list is hydrochloric acid ([tex]$HCl$[/tex]). It is classified as a strong acid because it completely ionizes in an aqueous solution.
Therefore, the strongest acid among the given options is 2.00 M HCl.
Here's a breakdown of each acid listed:
1. [tex]$C_6H_5OH$[/tex] (phenol): This is a weak acid because it does not fully dissociate in solution.
2. [tex]$HClO$[/tex] (hypochlorous acid): This is a weak acid. It does not dissociate completely in water.
3. [tex]$HCN$[/tex] (hydrocyanic acid): This is a weak acid, known for its limited dissociation in water.
4. [tex]$HCl$[/tex] (hydrochloric acid): This is a strong acid. It dissociates completely in water, making it a very strong acid.
5. [tex]$HF$[/tex] (hydrofluoric acid): While often considered stronger than many organic acids, it is still a weak acid and doesn't fully dissociate in water due to the strong hydrogen-fluorine bond.
Based on their dissociation ability and general strength, the strongest acid from the list is hydrochloric acid ([tex]$HCl$[/tex]). It is classified as a strong acid because it completely ionizes in an aqueous solution.
Therefore, the strongest acid among the given options is 2.00 M HCl.
