What do acid formulas have in common? oh is the anion. a metal and a nonmetal h is the cation. a metal and a polyatomic anion containing oxygen?

Chemistry · High School · Thu Feb 04 2021

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Acid formulas often have specific characteristics that distinguish them from other types of chemical compounds. Here are the common features found in acid formulas:

1. Presence of Hydrogen (H): In acids, hydrogen atoms are usually present as a cation (positively charged ion), and they are the ones that can be donated as protons (H+) during chemical reactions, which is a characteristic behavior of acids.

2. Presence of Anion: Acids contain an anion (negatively charged ion) that is bonded to the hydrogen atom(s). This anion varies and can either be a simple nonmetal ion like Cl^- (as in hydrochloric acid, HCl) or a polyatomic ion that includes oxygen, such as sulfate (SO_4^2-) or nitrate (NO_3^-).

3. Hydrogen is the Cation: Especially with binary acids (acids consisting of only two elements, one being hydrogen), hydrogen serves as the cation bonded to a nonmetal anion (e.g., HCl, HBr, HI).

4. Combination with Polyatomic Anions Containing Oxygen: Many acids are formed by the combination of hydrogen with polyatomic anions that contain oxygen, known as oxyanions, resulting in oxoacids. Examples include sulfuric acid (H_2SO_4), which combines with the sulfate ion (SO_4^2-), and nitric acid (HNO_3), which combines with the nitrate ion (NO_3^-).

So, in summary, all acid formulas typically contain hydrogen atoms that can act as cations when the acid dissociates in a solution and are either directly bonded to a nonmetal ion or to a polyatomic ion containing oxygen.

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