Discover answers to your most pressing questions at Westonci.ca, the ultimate Q&A platform that connects you with expert solutions. Experience the ease of finding reliable answers to your questions from a vast community of knowledgeable experts. Join our platform to connect with experts ready to provide precise answers to your questions in different areas.

Which of the following is an acid?

A. [tex]Be(OH)_2[/tex]
B. [tex]HCl[/tex]
C. [tex]LiBr[/tex]
D. [tex]NH_3[/tex]


Sagot :

To determine which substance among the given options is an acid, we should examine the chemical properties of each one. Here are the steps:

1. Be(OH)[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]: This is beryllium hydroxide. Hydroxides of metal elements are generally bases because they can accept protons (H[tex]\(^+\)[/tex]) and release hydroxide ions (OH[tex]\(^-\)[/tex]). Therefore, Be(OH)[tex]\(_2\)[/tex] is a base.

2. HCl: This is hydrochloric acid. It is a well-known and strong acid that dissociates completely in water to release hydrogen ions (H[tex]\(^+\)[/tex]) and chloride ions (Cl[tex]\(^-\)[/tex]). Therefore, HCl is an acid.

3. LiBr: This is lithium bromide. It is a salt formed from the neutralization of lithium hydroxide (a base) and hydrobromic acid (an acid). Since it is a salt and does not release H[tex]\(^+\)[/tex] ions on its own, it is neither an acid nor a base.

4. NH[tex]\(_3\)[/tex]: This is ammonia. It is a weak base because it can accept a proton (H[tex]\(^+\)[/tex]) to form ammonium ion (NH[tex]\(_4^\+\)[/tex]). Therefore, NH[tex]\(_3\)[/tex] is a base.

Given the chemical nature of each substance, we conclude that the acid in the list is:

[tex]\[ \boxed{HCl} \][/tex]