[camptzak]

A friend of mine is doing some training for a new Hazmat job. His instructor told him the most acidic water solution and strongest acid is 32 N hydrochloric acid. Now I know he is at least muddling terms about acidity and acid strength as hydrochloric acid is not the strongest acid as far as pKa goes.

but, what is the strongest water solution you can create? I am pretty sure you cannot get 32 mols of hydrocholric acid into a liter solution. couldn't you create a solution with a lower pH with sulfuric acid?

I know there is a limit to the amount of acid you can get into solution, but I thought it was about 38% or hydrochloric and 37% for sulfuric?
and if you go above this hydrochloric fumes and sulfuric precipitates.

[camptzak]

ok based on wikipedia as a source the maximum amount of hcl by gram in a liter of water is 720grams. well below 32 N

so can 32 N HCl cannot exist correct?

[Borek]

http://encyclopedia.airliquide.com/Encyclopedia.asp?GasID=17 lists density of the liquid HCl as 1191 kg/m³, that would mean 32.6 M. But it means no water at all (so not a water solution) and temperature of -85°C.

[Arkcon]

In which case, its a cryogenic liquid of a molecular (that is, non-ionic) compound.  I wouldn't want pure HCl on my skin, since it would soon find some moisture, but its important to remember the technical concept.  An unionized molecular compound isn't an Arrhenius acid.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid#Arrhenius_acids

[magician4]

- with a standard pressure of 1 bar / 25 °C ( i.e. the usual situation), you can't have more like ~ 10 M HCl aq. solutions

- though HCl is a strong acid, yes, by no means it is the strongest acid around  (with respect to pKs, that is)
take for example HI
or HClO₄
or Olah's superacids like HSbF₆ , for example
(this one can protonate alkanes (sic!) and produce ions like CH₅⁺  thereby! ... take that, HCl , you weakling! )


regards

Ingo

[camptzak]

thanks guys!