Paper: CSIR-NET December 2012 · Subject: Inorganic Chemistry · Chapter: Acids and Bases · Topic: Acid and Bases – General · Marks: 2 · Difficulty: Easy
The compound that will behave as an acid in $\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}$ is
(a)$\mathrm{CH_3COOH}$
(b)$\mathrm{HNO_3}$
(c)$\mathrm{HClO_4}$
(d)$\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}$
Answer
Answer: C ✓ checked by 4AB · confidence high
Explanation
Only an acid stronger than H₂SO₄ can protonate it. HClO₄ (pKa ≈ −9) is stronger than H₂SO₄ (pKa ≈ −3); HNO₃ (pKa ≈ −1), CH₃COOH and H₂O are all weaker and act as bases in sulfuric acid.