Which one of the following is a weak acid?

Weak acids are substances that partially ionize in water, meaning they don't completely dissociate into ions. They typically have a low degree of ionization. Here are some common properties and examples of weak acids:

1. Weak acids have a low ionization constant (Ka) compared to strong acids.
2. They do not completely dissociate into H+ ions (protons) and their corresponding anions in aqueous solutions.
3. They often have a relatively high pH when dissolved in water because they release fewer H+ ions.
4. Weak acids are often found in natural substances, and many of them have a sour taste.

Now, let's examine the options to determine which of them is a weak acid: A. HCl (Hydrochloric acid):

• Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid, not a weak acid. It fully ionizes into H+ ions and Cl- ions in water. It has a high degree of ionization.

B. CH3COOH (Acetic acid):

• Acetic acid is a weak acid. It only partially ionizes in water, and the equilibrium reaction looks like this: CH3COOH ⇌ CH3COO- + H+
• Acetic acid is commonly found in vinegar and has a sour taste.

C. H2SO4 (Sulfuric acid):

• Sulfuric acid is a strong acid. It undergoes complete ionization in water, yielding two H+ ions for each molecule of H2SO4.

D. NaOH (Sodium hydroxide):

• Sodium hydroxide is a strong base, not an acid. It dissociates completely into Na+ ions and OH- ions in water.

Based on the properties and characteristics of weak acids, the correct answer is option B: CH3COOH (Acetic acid). It is a weak acid because it only partially ionizes in water and has a relatively low ionization constant compared to strong acids like HCl an