Question

19\. For an acid-base reaction, what is the reacting species, that is, the ion or molecule that appears in the chemical equation, in the following acids? (a) perchloric acid (b) hydriodic acid (c) nitrous acid (d) nitric acid (e) lactic acid, \(\mathrm{HC}_{3} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{O}_{3}\)

Short answer

Answer: In all of the given acids, the reacting species in an acid-base reaction is the hydrogen ion (H⁺).

Step-by-step solution

(a) Perchloric Acid

Perchloric acid has the chemical formula \(\mathrm{HClO}_{4}\). The reacting species in this acid-base reaction is the hydrogen ion (\(\mathrm{H}^{+}\)). The chemical equation of the dissociation is: \(\mathrm{HClO}_{4} \rightarrow \mathrm{H}^{+} + \mathrm{ClO}_{4}^{-}\)

(b) Hydriodic Acid

Hydriodic acid has the chemical formula \(\mathrm{HI}\). The reacting species in this acid-base reaction is the hydrogen ion (\(\mathrm{H}^{+}\)) again. The chemical equation of the dissociation is: \(\mathrm{HI} \rightarrow \mathrm{H}^{+} + \mathrm{I}^{-}\)

(c) Nitrous Acid

Nitrous acid has the chemical formula \(\mathrm{HNO}_{2}\). The reacting species in this acid-base reaction is the hydrogen ion (\(\mathrm{H}^{+}\)). The chemical equation of the dissociation is: \(\mathrm{HNO}_{2} \rightarrow \mathrm{H}^{+} + \mathrm{NO}_{2}^{-}\)

(d) Nitric Acid

Nitric acid has the chemical formula \(\mathrm{HNO}_{3}\). The reacting species in this acid-base reaction is the hydrogen ion (\(\mathrm{H}^{+}\)). The chemical equation of the dissociation is: \(\mathrm{HNO}_{3} \rightarrow \mathrm{H}^{+} + \mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}\)

(e) Lactic Acid

Lactic acid has the chemical formula \(\mathrm{HC}_{3} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{O}_{3}\). The reacting species in this acid-base reaction is the hydrogen ion (\(\mathrm{H}^{+}\)). The chemical equation of the dissociation is: \(\mathrm{HC}_{3} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{O}_{3} \rightarrow \mathrm{H}^{+} + \mathrm{C}_{3} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{O}_{3}^{-}\)