Specify what ions are present upon dissolving each of the following substances in water: (c) HClO₄

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the compound given: HClO₄ is perchloric acid, a strong acid.
2. Recognize that strong acids completely dissociate into their ions in water.
3. Write the dissociation equation for HClO₄ in water: HClO₄ → H⁺ + ClO₄⁻.
4. Identify the ions formed: H⁺ (hydrogen ion) and ClO₄⁻ (perchlorate ion).
5. Conclude that the ions present in the solution after dissolving HClO₄ in water are H⁺ and ClO₄⁻.

Key Concepts

Strong Acids

Strong acids are substances that completely dissociate into their ions in aqueous solution. This means that when a strong acid is dissolved in water, it releases all of its hydrogen ions (H+) into the solution, resulting in a high concentration of H+ ions. HClO4, or perchloric acid, is classified as a strong acid, which is crucial for understanding the ions produced when it dissolves in water.

Dissociation of Acids

Dissociation refers to the process by which an acid separates into its constituent ions when dissolved in water. For HClO4, the dissociation can be represented by the equation HClO4 → H+ + ClO4-. This reaction illustrates how the acid breaks apart to form hydrogen ions and perchlorate ions, which are essential for determining the chemical behavior of the solution.

Ionic Compounds in Solution

When ionic compounds dissolve in water, they separate into their individual ions, which can conduct electricity and participate in chemical reactions. In the case of HClO4, the resulting ions, H+ and ClO4-, are free to move in the solution, affecting the solution's pH and reactivity. Understanding this concept is vital for predicting the properties of solutions formed from acids and their behavior in chemical reactions.