Common Acids

Sulfuric Acid H2SO4

Nitric Acid HNO3

Phosphoric Acid H3PO4

Hydrochloric Acid HCl

Acetic Acid CH3COOH

Carbonic Acid H2CO3

Battery acid

Used to make fertilizersand explosives

Food flavoring

Stomach acid

Vinegar

Carbonated water

Common AcidsFormulaFormula Name of Acid Name of Negative

Ion of Salt

HF hydrofluoric fluorideHBr hydrobromic bromideHI hydroiodic iodideHCl hydrochloric chlorideHClO hypochlorous hypochloriteHClO2 chlorous chloriteHClO3 chloric chlorateHClO4 perchloric perchlorateH2S hydrosulfuric sulfideH2SO3 sulfurous sulfiteH2SO4 sulfuric sulfateHNO2 nitrous nitriteHNO3 nitric nitrateH2CO3 carbonic carbonateH3PO3 phosphorous phosphiteH3PO4 phosphoric phosphate

Formation of Hydronium Ions

1+

hydronium ion

H3O+

+

hydrogen ion

H+

water

H2O

1+

(a proton)

1+

Sulfuric Acid, H2SO4

Sulfuric acid is the most commonly produced industrial chemical in the world.

Uses: petroleum refining, metallurgy, manufacture of fertilizer, many industrial processes: metals, paper, paint, dyes, detergents

Sulfuric acid is used in automobile batteries.

H2SO4

“oil of vitriol”

Nitric Acid, HNO3

Nitric acid stains proteins yellow (like your skin).

Uses: make explosives, fertilizers, rubber, plastics, dyes, and pharmaceuticals.

HNO3

“aqua fortis”

Hydrochloric Acid, HCl

The stomach produces HCl to aid in the digestion of food.

Uses: For ‘pickling’ iron and steel.Pickling is the immersion of metals in acid solution to removesurface impurities.

A dilute solution of HCl is called muriatic acid (available in many hardwarestores). Muriatic acid is commonly used to adjust pH in swimming pools and in the cleaning of masonry.

HCl(g) + H2O(l) HCl(aq)hydrogen chloride water hydrochloric acid