Themes > Science > Chemistry > Inorganic Chemistry > Acids and Bases > Acids and Bases Index > Strong acids


Certain acids are known as strong acids. These are acids that fully ionize when placed in water: in other words, the reaction

HA + H2O -> A- + H3O+
goes to completion and thus
Ka = [A-][H3O+]/[HA] = infinity
for a strong acid. The common strong acids are:
  • HCl, hydrochloric acid
  • HBr, hyrdobromic acid
  • HI, hydroiodic acid
  • H2SO4, sulfuric acid
  • HNO3, nitric acid
  • HClO4, perchloric acid
(Note that among the halogens, HF, hydrofluoric acid is not a strong acid.) There are also strong bases.


Information provided by: http://learn.chem.vt.edu