4 ms·

What would be the threshold for calling something "pure acid" (in the acid/base sense ;) )?

• Pulcinella 9y ago
  Well not in terms of pH, but there are several acids that can exist as a pure liquid, undiluted by water. Pure vinegar, undiluted by water, is called glacial acetic acid. It is something that can be bought from a chemical company. Because there is no water, there isn't really a pH. That doesn't mean it isn't incredibly hazardous, though.
  • aninhumer 9y ago
    >Because there is no water, there isn't really a pH. Could you elaborate? Wikipedia doesn't seem to suggest water is necessary (it talks about moles per unit volume) but I may be misunderstanding something.
    • tomsmeding 9y ago
      I'd say you have moles per unit volume of H3O+ ions. These form as the combination of H+ ions (readily present in copious amounts of acid) and crucially, H2O molecules.
    • tim333 9y ago
      The definition of pH is pretty much a measure of the proton concentration of things dissolved in water. You can look at similar measures in non aqueous solution but then it doesn't fit the definition properly.
  • mirimir 9y ago
    On the other hand, pure oleic acid isn't especially toxic. It's a major component of Lorenzos oil.
• hossbeast 9y ago
  Nuthin but protons?