Which one of the following correctly expresses the solution of an acid in water or a base in water?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

OSSSC LSI, Forester & Forest Guard Official Paper (Held On: 27 Apr, 2024 Shift 1)

Answer 1

The correct answer is HCOOH + H₂O → H₃O⁺ + HCOO^-.

Key Points

The given reaction, HCOOH + H₂O → H₃O⁺ + HCOO^-, correctly represents the ionization of formic acid (HCOOH) in water.
In this reaction, formic acid (HCOOH) donates a proton (H⁺) to a water molecule (H₂O), forming hydronium ion (H₃O⁺) and formate ion (HCOO^-).
This ionization process is characteristic of acids dissolving in water, where the acid increases the concentration of H⁺ ions in the solution.

Additional Information

Acids in water increase the concentration of H⁺ ions, while bases increase the concentration of OH^- ions.
Strong acids and bases dissociate completely in water, whereas weak acids and bases only partially dissociate.
Understanding the behavior of acids and bases in water is crucial for various applications, including buffer solutions, titration, and industrial chemical processes.