Question

Why do $\mathrm{HCl},{\mathrm{HNO}}_3,\mathrm{etc}$.show acidic characters in aqueous solutions while solutions of compounds like alcohol and glucose do not show acidic character?

Answer 1

Acidic Nature:

• A base has a greater pH than anything that is acidic, which has a lower $\mathrm{pH}$.
• Acidic substances include vinegar and other acids. The phrase derives from the Latin word acidus, which means "sour or harsh," and originally meant "of the flavor of vinegar."

Acidic Nature of an aqueous solution:

• It is understood that the acidic nature is directly proportional to the Hydrogen ion, ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$ concentration.
• Hydrochloric acid$\left(HCl\right)$, Nitric acid$\left(HN{O}_3\right)$ , etc show an acidic nature because they get dissolved in the aqueous solution and produce the Hydrogen ion.
• This Hydrogen ion is responsible for the acidic nature of the compounds.
• And the other compounds such as alcohol and glucose solutions do not generate Hydrogen ions, so they do not have acidic properties.