Which of the following best explains how conductivity measurements can be used to distinguish between a strong acid and a weak acid in aqueous solution?

• A. Conductivity measurements cannot be used to distinguish between strong and weak acids.
• B. Both strong and weak acids will have the same conductivity since they both contain hydrogen ions.
• C. A weak acid will produce a higher conductivity because it forms more ions in solution than a strong acid.
• D. A strong acid will produce a higher conductivity because it ionizes completely, while a weak acid will produce lower conductivity due to partial ionization.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that conductivity in aqueous solutions depends on the presence of ions, which carry electric current.
2. Recall that strong acids ionize completely in water, meaning they dissociate fully into hydrogen ions (H\_3O\^+) and their conjugate base ions, resulting in a high concentration of ions.
3. Recognize that weak acids only partially ionize in water, producing fewer ions compared to strong acids at the same concentration.
4. Connect the degree of ionization to conductivity: more ions in solution lead to higher conductivity, while fewer ions result in lower conductivity.
5. Conclude that measuring conductivity allows us to distinguish between strong and weak acids because strong acids produce higher conductivity due to complete ionization, whereas weak acids produce lower conductivity due to partial ionization.