Question

Define the term basicity of an acid. Give the basicity of nitric acid, sulphuric acid, and phosphoric acid.

Answer 1

Basicity of an acid:

• The basicity of acid is the number of hydrogen (${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$ )ions that can be produced by one molecule of acid in an aqueous solution.

Basicity of Nitric acid:

• The basicity of Nitric acid (${\mathrm{HNO}}_3$ ) is 1.
• In nitric acid, only one hydrogen ion (${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$) is produced in its aqueous solution.

Basicity of Sulphuric acid:

• The basicity of Sulphuric acid (${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4$) is 2.
• In sulphuric acid, only two hydrogen ions ( ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$) are produced in its aqueous solution.

Basicity of phosphoric acid:

• The basicity of phosphoric acid (${\mathrm{H}}_3{\mathrm{PO}}_4$) is 3.
• In phosphoric acid, only three hydrogens ( ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$) are produced in its aqueous solution.