I've always wondered, how does stomach acid compare to sulphuric acid in potency??
2006-09-16 06:34:38 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Acid Strength and Percent Ionization
Do not confuse the term acid strength with pH. The strength of an acid has to do with the percentage of the initial number of acid molecules that are ionized. If a higher percentage of the original acid molecules are ionized, and therefore, donated as hydrated protons (hydronium ions) then the acid will be stonger. Strong acids are Hydrochloric (HCl(aq)), Hydrobromic (HBr(aq)), Nitric (HNO3), Sulfuric (H2SO4), and Perchloric (HClO4) acids. In each of these molecular acids the percentage of ionization is almost 100%.
On the other hand, there are certain acids that will not ionize very easily when added to water. These acids will only give up there protons to water with difficulty. For example, acetic acid (HC2H3O2), Hydrofluoric acid (HF(aq)), HydroCyanic (HCN), Carbonic acid (H2CO3), Sulfurous acid (H2SO3), and Nitrous acid (HNO2) are only a few of the many "weak" acids. They will only allow 1-5% ionization. In other words, if 5% ionizatiuon takes place only 5 molecules out of 100 will ionize. The other 95 molecules go into solution as "molecules" and not ions. Weak acids can exhibit low pH readings just as strong acids. Acid strength of weak acids has more to do with the value of the ionization constant of the acid.
2006-09-16 06:54:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Acid strength is measured in a scale called pH. The stronger the acid the lower the pH. Concentration also affects the pH of an acid a dilute acid has a higher pH than the same acid in a concentrated form.
If you were comparing stomach acid to say battery acid then the battery acid would be the more 'potent'.
2006-09-16 13:43:03 · answer #2 · answered by christopher N 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stomach acid or gastric acid is mainly hydrochloric acid, which has a pH of 2-3.
Sulphuric acid, depending on its concentration, can have any acidic pH (pH 1 to 7).
Although you can really compare them without knowing the concentration of sulphuric acid used, you can see that the gastric acid a strong acid not just from its chemical name, but also from its low pH.
2006-09-16 13:42:35 · answer #3 · answered by Kemmy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In terms of Ph scale - Sulphuric acid can be upto 0.1, basically as acidic as possible. Stomach acid is around 2-3, very acidic, but significantly less than sulphuric acid.
2006-09-16 13:39:19 · answer #4 · answered by Jethro 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
H2SO4 is a much stronger acid, yet in water they are all leveled to the same strenghth acid, i.e. H3O+. That is to say, H3O+ is the strongest acid you can have in water.
Now, in other solvents, it is different.
The above is known as the "levelling effect".
2006-09-16 13:51:10 · answer #5 · answered by Richard W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are different concentrations of sulfuric acid. dilute sulphuric acid isnt potent at all
2006-09-16 13:37:21 · answer #6 · answered by hhio 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Watch out for double dipped ones, they are the strongest !
2006-09-16 13:41:54 · answer #7 · answered by savs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
very oddly
2006-09-16 13:42:02 · answer #8 · answered by Temilola S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋