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Question

Why do HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, etc., show acidic character in aqueous solutions while solutions of compounds like C6H12O6 (glucose) and C2H5OH (alcohol) do not show acidic character ?

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Solution

HCl and HNO3 are strong acids (polar in nature) thus releases H+ ions when dissolved in aqueous solutions whereas glucose and alcohol molecules are not acids (and non-polar in nature) so, they cannot release H+​​​​​​​ ions in aqueous solutions. Alcohols partially release H+​​​​​​​ ions in aqueous solutions, so they are considered as weak acids.
HClH++Cl


Although aqueous solutions of glucose and alcohol contain hydrogen, these cannot dissociate in water to form hydrogen ions. Hence, they do not show acidic character.
The dissociation of HCl or HNO3​​​​​​​ to form hydrogen ions always occurs in the presence of water. Hydrogen ions (H+​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​) combine with H2O to form hydronium ions ( H3O+​​​​​​​).

H2O+H+H3O+


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