Nitric Acid Solution Composition

What particles will be present in a solution of nitric acid? Is nitric acid a strong or weak acid?

What are the particles present in a solution of nitric acid? Is nitric acid classified as a strong or weak acid?

Answer:

In a solution of nitric acid, the only particles present will be nitric acid molecules. This solution mainly consists of undissociated nitric acid molecules.

Nitric acid (HNO3) is considered a strong acid. When dissolved in water, nitric acid molecules dissociate completely into ions. However, in a pure solution of nitric acid without any other substances or impurities present, the solution will mainly contain undissociated nitric acid molecules (HNO3).

This occurs because the dissociation of nitric acid is a rapid and reversible process, and in the absence of other substances, the equilibrium shifts towards the undissociated form of HNO3 molecules. Therefore, in a pure solution of nitric acid, the primary particles present are the nitric acid molecules.

Overall, a solution of nitric acid predominantly consists of nitric acid molecules (HNO3) due to its classification as a strong acid that dissociates almost entirely into ions.