Question
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Classify the acidity of water, , based on its reactivity in aqueous
solution.
Choose 1 answer:
(A) Weak acid
(B) Strong acid

Ask by Harris Thornton. in China
Mar 28,2025

Upstudy AI Solution

Tutor-Verified Answer

Answer

Water is a weak acid.

Solution

  1. Water is amphoteric, meaning it can both donate and accept protons.
  2. The autoionization of water is represented by:
    This shows that water can act as an acid (donating a proton) but the extent of this reaction is very limited.
  3. The equilibrium constant for this process is:
    A small value of indicates that water ionizes only slightly, confirming that water is a very weak acid.
  4. While water can donate a proton, its behavior in aqueous solution corresponds to that of a weak acid.
Answer: (A) Weak acid.

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Bonus Knowledge

Water, , can be classified as a weak acid in aqueous solution. This is due to its ability to donate protons (H⁺ ions) to other substances, but it does this very minimally compared to strong acids. In pure water, there exists a very low concentration of H⁺ and OH⁻ ions, showcasing its weak acidic nature.
Interestingly, water can also act as a base, making it amphoteric. This dual behavior allows it to participate in various chemical reactions, accepting or donating protons depending on the circumstances, such as in the case of reacting with stronger acids or bases. This adaptable nature of water is crucial to many biochemical processes!

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