Question

Question
Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid. Acetic acid is a weak acid. Which statement about hydrochloric acid and acetic acid is correct?(1 point)
Responses

A solution of hydrochloric acid at equilibrium will have a greater concentration of solute than a solution of acetic acid at equilibrium.
A solution of hydrochloric acid at equilibrium will have a greater concentration of solute than a solution of acetic acid at equilibrium.

The pH of a solution of hydrochloric acid must be less than the pH of a solution of acetic acid.
The pH of a solution of hydrochloric acid must be less than the pH of a solution of acetic acid.

If the initial concentration of each acid is the same, then acetic acid will produce more H3O+ ions than hydrochloric acid.
If the initial concentration of each acid is the same, then acetic acid will produce more H 3 O + ions than hydrochloric acid.

The dissociation constant for hydrochloric acid is greater than the dissociation constant for acetic acid.
The dissociation constant for hydrochloric acid is greater than the dissociation constant for acetic acid.

Answer 1

The correct statement is:

**The dissociation constant for hydrochloric acid is greater than the dissociation constant for acetic acid.**

This is because hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong acid that completely dissociates in solution, while acetic acid (CH₃COOH) is a weak acid that only partially dissociates. As a result, the dissociation constant (Ka) for HCl is very high (essentially infinite since it fully dissociates), whereas the Ka for acetic acid is relatively much lower.