Question

An aqueous solution of an acid conducts electricity because acid in water

• A. gets ionized
• B. is soluble
• C. is insoluble
• D. none of these

Hint:

Acids only show their acidic properties (like turning blue litmus red or conducting electricity) in the presence of water because water facilitates their ionization to produce \(H^+\) ions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks about the behavior of an acid when dissolved in water. The defining characteristic of an Arrhenius acid is its ability to produce hydrogen ions (\(H^+\)) or hydronium ions (\(H_3O^+\)) in an aqueous solution.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
When an acid (e.g., HCl) is dissolved in water, its molecules dissociate or ionize. This means the acid molecule breaks apart into ions.
For example, hydrochloric acid (HCl) ionizes in water as follows: \[ HCl(aq) \rightarrow H^+(aq) + Cl^-(aq) \] The hydrogen ion (\(H^+\)) then combines with a water molecule to form a hydronium ion (\(H_3O^+\)).
This process of forming ions is called ionization. The presence of these mobile ions is what allows acidic solutions to conduct electricity. While most acids are soluble (B), the most fundamental chemical process occurring is ionization (A). Insolubility (C) is incorrect.

Step 3: Final Answer:
An acid in an aqueous solution gets ionized.