Question

Write the formula for each of the following acids. a. hydrocyanic acid b. nitric acid c. sulfuric acid d. phosphoric acid e. hypochlorous acid f. hydrobromic acid g. bromous acid h. hydrofluoric acid

Short answer

a. $HCN$ b. $HN{O}_3$ c. $H_{2}S{O}_4$ d. $H_{3}P{O}_4$ e. $HClO$ f. $HBr$ g. $HBr{O}_2$ h. $HF$

Step-by-step solution

a. Hydrocyanic acid

Hydrocyanic acid is formed by combining hydrogen ions (H⁺) and cyanide ions (CN⁻). To create a neutral compound, we simply combine the two ions: $HCN$.

b. Nitric acid

Nitric acid is formed by combining hydrogen ions (H⁺) and nitrate ions (NO₃⁻). To create a neutral compound, we combine the two ions: $HN{O}_3$.

c. Sulfuric acid

Sulfuric acid is formed by combining hydrogen ions (H⁺) and sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻). To create a neutral compound, we need to balance out the charge by using two hydrogen ions: $H_{2}S{O}_4$.

d. Phosphoric acid

Phosphoric acid is formed by combining hydrogen ions (H⁺) and phosphate ions (PO₄³⁻). To create a neutral compound, we need to balance out the charge by using three hydrogen ions: $H_{3}P{O}_4$.

e. Hypochlorous acid

Hypochlorous acid is formed by combining hydrogen ions (H⁺) and hypochlorite ions (ClO⁻). To create a neutral compound, we simply combine the two ions: $HClO$.

f. Hydrobromic acid

Hydrobromic acid is formed by combining hydrogen ions (H⁺) and bromide ions (Br⁻). To create a neutral compound, we simply combine the two ions: $HBr$.

g. Bromous acid

Bromous acid is formed by combining hydrogen ions (H⁺) and bromite ions (BrO₂⁻). To create a neutral compound, we simply combine the two ions: $HBr{O}_2$.

h. Hydrofluoric acid

Hydrofluoric acid is formed by combining hydrogen ions (H⁺) and fluoride ions (F⁻). To create a neutral compound, we simply combine the two ions: $HF$.

Key concepts

Inorganic Chemistry

Inorganic chemistry is a branch of chemistry that focuses on compounds that don't contain carbon-hydrogen bonds. Unlike organic chemistry, which deals primarily with carbon compounds, inorganic chemistry encompasses a wide range of substances, including metals, minerals, and organometallic compounds.
This field covers the study of acid formulas, as these are often non-carbon-based compounds that significantly impact both industrial applications and biological systems.

• Metals and Nonmetals: These elements form a great variety of compounds, such as oxides, halides, and salts. Understanding their behaviors and interactions is crucial to mastering inorganic chemistry.
• Acids and Bases: These are fundamental compounds in inorganic chemistry. They react to form salts and help in various applications, ranging from food production to manufacturing.
• Coordination Compounds: These compounds are formed by the combination of metal atoms with ligands, often leading to the establishment of unique chemical properties and reactions.

Inorganic chemistry provides essential insight into the composition and reactions of synthetic and natural materials.

Acid-Base Chemistry

Acid-base chemistry is critical as it involves the principles that describe how acids and bases interact with each other. This principle plays a massive role in many chemical processes.
In the context of acid formulas, each formula represents the combination of hydrogen ions (H⁺) with other ions. This combination forms unique compounds with distinct chemical properties.

• Understanding Acidity: An acid is a substance that releases hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. The more hydrogen ions an acid can release, the stronger the acid, like sulfuric acid ($H_{2}S{O}_4$).
• Neutralization Reactions: When acids and bases react together, they form water and salts, neutralizing each other. This principle is crucial in balancing chemical equations.
• pH Level: This is a measure of acidity or basicity of a solution. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Acids have a pH below 7.

Grasping acid-base chemistry means understanding how substances combine and transform in a wide array of environments.

Chemical Compounds

Chemical compounds are substances formed by the combination of two or more different elements, bonded together in fixed proportions. These can be organic or inorganic, with acids such as nitric acid ($HN{O}_3$) being key examples of inorganic compounds, crucial in both nature and industry.

• Types of Compounds: Compounds are classified based on their makeup and bonds such as ionic compounds (like $HCN$), covalent compounds, acids, bases, and salts.
• Formation of Acids: This involves the combination of hydrogen ions with various anions, forming strong or weak acids depending on how readily they donate hydrogen ions.
• Roles in Society: Chemical compounds are essential in manufacturing, healthcare, research, and environmental applications. For instance, phosphoric acid ($H_{3}P{O}_4$) is widely used in fertilizers.

Understanding chemical compounds is pivotal for comprehending the fundamental units of chemistry and how they influence various processes.

Molecular Formulas

Molecular formulas provide a direct insight into the composition of a molecule, denoting the elements involved and their respective quantities. This is pivotal in determining the molecular structure and properties of a compound.

• Purpose of Molecular Formulas: They depict the exact number of each type of atom in a molecule, like hydrobromic acid's formula, $HBr$.
• Structural Relevance: While molecular formulas provide the count of atoms, they don't specify the arrangement. Understanding both the formula and structure is vital for predicting molecular behavior.
• Basic Representation in Acids: For acids, the hydrogen ion is often the starting point, paired with relevant ions to form stable molecules. For instance, sulfuric acid is expressed as $H_{2}S{O}_4$.

Grasping molecular formulas is essential for diving deeper into chemistry, helping reveal how various chemicals interact with one another.