Can Cl- react with H2O? HOW? Solution the term HCl ---> H+ + Cl- is the most mis

Question

Explanation / Answer

the term HCl ---> H+ + Cl- is the most misleading term that someone could learn in highschool level. But first of all VERY GOOD QUESTION! The term that HCl 'dissociates' in water actually doesn't mean that suddenly HCl molecule breaks into H+ and Cl-, because if that is the case one will need to supply enormous amount of energy. What actually happens is that HCl REACTS with water. since water is considered to be strong basic when compared to HCl, so what really happens is HCl + H2O --> [H3O+][Cl-] and this reaction is an exothermal reaction, that's why when you dilute HCl with water the you'll notice that the reaction glass will be slightly warmer. Since in the past time the most common solvent used in chemistry was water, the definition of acid was also used relatively to water (bronsted acidity concept) and in many case people start to leave out the complete reaction equation and shortened it with HCl ---> H+ + Cl- , it's not wrong though as long as you know that it only applies in aqueous solution and that what really happens is reaction between HCl and water and NOT self-breaking covalent bond of HCl in the more modern chemistry time, more organic solvent are involved and that's why the definition of more universal Lewis acidity become

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse C
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.