Why do acids not show acidic behaviour in the absence of water

• Water is known as a universal solvent as maximum compounds are easily soluble in it. • In water majority of compounds dissociate into their constituent ions. • The acidic behavior of acid is due to the presence of hydrogen ions H + as p H is directly proportional to H + concentration. • I n the absence of water, an acid will not show its acidic behavior because acids do not dissociate to produce H + ( a q ) ions. • For example, hydrochloric acid can easily release its H + ion in water to form hydronium ion H 3 ​ O + and C l − ion.

In both case hydrogen gas evoled. when metal react with acid it form salt and hydrogen gas. Metal +acid ---> salt + hydrogen gas Fizzing will occur more vigorously in test A containing hydrochloric acid. This is because hydrochloric acid is stronger acid than acetic acid and reaction between magnesium ribbon and HCl is faster than between Mg and acetic acid.

(a) The acidic behavior of an acid is due to the presence of hydrogen ions [H + (aq) ions] which are produced only when acids are dissolved in water. In the absence of water, acids do not produce hydrogen ions and hence do not show acidic behavior. (b) The aqueous solution of an acid conducts electricity due to the presence of charged particles called ‘ions’ in it. These ions carry electric current. (c) Distilled water does not conduct electricity because it does not contain any ionic compounds dissolved in it whereas rain water does. Reason: When rain water falls on earth through the atmosphere, it dissolves an acidic gas ‘carbon dioxide’ from the air and forms carbonic acid (H 2CO 3). The carbonic acid provides some hydrogen and carbonate ions to the rain water. Due to the presence of these ions, rain water conducts electricity