Explain why the pH of 0.1 molar solution of acetic acid will be higher than that of 0.1 molar solution of HCl.
Acetic acid is a weak electrolyte. It is not completely ionized and hence gives less H+ ion concentration. HCl is a strong acid. It is completely ionized giving more H+ ions concentration. As pH = – log [H+], the lesser the no. of H+ ions, the more the value of pH. Therefore pH of 0.1 M acetic acid is more than that of 0.1 M HCl.
