Question

What is an oxyacid? Write the formulas of three acids that are oxyacids. Write the formulas of three acids that are not oxyacids.

Short answer

An oxyacid is an acid that contains hydrogen, oxygen, and at least one other element, with at least one hydrogen atom bound to an oxygen, creating a hydroxyl group that can dissociate and act as a proton donor. Examples of oxyacids include sulfuric acid (H_2SO_4), phosphoric acid (H_3PO_4), and nitric acid (HNO_3). On the other hand, non-oxyacids do not contain an oxygen atom. Examples of non-oxyacids include hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrobromic acid (HBr), and hydrosulfuric acid (H_2S).

Step-by-step solution

Identify oxyacids

To find oxyacids, we need to look for acids containing hydrogen, oxygen, and at least one other element, with hydrogen bound to an oxygen atom. We will present three examples of oxyacids with their corresponding formulas.

List three oxyacids and their formulas

\[\text{Sulfuric acid: } H_2SO_4\] \[\text{Phosphoric acid: } H_3PO_4\] \[\text{Nitric acid: } HNO_3\] These are all examples of common oxyacids.

Identify non-oxyacids

Non-oxyacids are acids that do not contain an oxygen atom. These acids usually just contain hydrogen and one other element, often forming binary compounds. We will present three examples of non-oxyacids and their corresponding formulas.

List three non-oxyacids and their formulas

\[\text{Hydrochloric acid: } HCl\] \[\text{Hydrobromic acid: } HBr\] \[\text{Hydrosulfuric acid (also known as hydrogen sulfide): } H_2S\] These are all examples of common non-oxyacids.

Key concepts

Chemical Composition of Acids

Understanding the chemical composition of acids is essential for grasping how they interact with other substances. Acids are compounds that donate protons (hydrogen ions, H⁺) when dissolved in water, and are characterized by their sour taste and ability to turn blue litmus paper red. The most fundamental element of an acid is hydrogen, which pairs with various anions to form different acids.

Oxyacids are a type of acid that contains hydrogen, oxygen, and at least one other element. The pivotal feature of oxyacids is that the hydrogen is bonded to an oxygen atom. This structure is critical because it influences the acid's strength and reactivity. The more oxygen atoms there are in relation to hydrogen, generally, the stronger the acid will be. In contrast, binary acids, which we will discuss in the next section, do not contain oxygen and have a different composition and properties.

Binary Acids

Binary acids are simpler than oxyacids in composition, consisting only of hydrogen and one other nonmetallic element. They're aptly named 'binary' because they contain two different elements. When binary acids dissolve in water, they release hydrogen ions, making the solution acidic.

The reactivity and strength of binary acids depend on the electronegativity and the size of the non-hydrogen atom. Typically, the stronger the bond between the hydrogen and the nonmetal atom, the weaker the acid will be because it is less likely to donate its hydrogen ion. The composition of binary acids is straightforward and follows the general formula HX, where X represents the nonmetal element. Examples of common binary acids include hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrobromic acid (HBr), and hydrosulfuric acid (H₂S), as mentioned in our exercise.

Formulas of Common Acids

The formulas of common acids are rooted in their chemical structure. For instance, oxyacids often have a central atom (such as sulfur in sulfuric acid) bonded to multiple oxygen atoms, with hydrogens attached to the oxygen.

Oxyacids

As seen in the exercise, sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄), and nitric acid (HNO₃) are typical examples. In these formulas, the subscript numbers denote the quantity of each atom; H₂SO₄ has two hydrogen atoms, one sulfur atom, and four oxygen atoms.

Binary Acids

Conversely, the formulas of common binary acids like hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrobromic acid (HBr), and hydrosulfuric acid (H₂S) reflect their simpler compositions. Each formula indicates a direct bond between hydrogen and a non-oxygen nonmetal. Recognizing the pattern in these formulas aids in predicting the behavior of the acids and understanding their reactions in chemical processes.