Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

explain y hyrodgen halides are water soluble and acidic in solution

very briefly i dont understand why

thanks alot!

all hydrogen halides are covalent gases
they are soluble in water because they react with the water to form ions

this reaction takes place because the hydrogen halide donates a proton (H+) to the water (forming H30+), leaving X- behind (X being a halogen)

therefore HX + H2O -> H30+(aq) + X-(aq)

it is acidic because it fulfills the bronstead-lowry definition of an acid - a proton donor - in that it donates the H+ to the H20

hope that helps

Reply 2

Mushu

LondonBoy

very briefly i dont understand why

thanks alot!

Because when they are in solution/water, they from H+ and 0H- ions, and so because water is polar, it attracts ions and bonds are made between the ions and water molecules. Therefore Hydrogen Halides are soluble. They are acidic because the H+ ion accounts for the acidity.

Any questions, feel free to pm me :smile: