Question

Acetic acid is a weak acid because

• A. its aqueous solution is acidic.
• B. it is highly ionized.
• C. it is weakly ionized
• D. it contains -COOH group

Answer 1

The correct option is C

it is weakly ionized

The explanation for the correct option:

(3)

• Weak acids are those which do not ionize completely to release Hydrogen ions (H⁺) when dissolved in water.
• Since Acetic acid (CH₃COOH) is a weak acid, it is weakly or partially ionized in water.

The explanation for incorrect options:

• (1) According to the definition of acids, both weak and strong acids form acidic solutions, when dissolved in Water.
• (2) Weak acids are weakly or partially ionized and not completely or highly ionized.
• (4) The functional group (-COOH) does not determine the strength of an acid.

Final Answer: Hence, option (3) is correct. Acetic acid is a weak acid because it is weakly ionized.