Question

Which of the following statements is correct?
                (A) Only organic acids conduct electricity.
                (B) Only mineral acids conduct electricity.
                (C) All acid solutions, whether organic acids or mineral acids conduct electricity.
                (D) None of these.

Answer 1

Hint: Acids have the property of releasing hydrogen ions in aqueous solutions. The ability of any compound to conduct electricity will depend on its ability to produce ions which can act as charge carriers.

Complete answer:
-First of all let us see what an acid is.
An acid is any substance which when present in aqueous solution releases one or more hydrogen ions (${H^ + }$). We can also say that an acid either donates hydrogen ions or accepts electrons.
For example: hydrochloric acid (HCl), acetic acid ($C{H_3}COOH$), etc.
-On the basis of the source of the acid, they are of 2 types: mineral acids and organic acids. Now let us talk about them individually.
(1)Organic acids: The acids which are found or present in plants and animals are known as organic acids. They are usually weak acids and get thus are weakly ionised in water.
For example: lactic acid (${C_3}{H_6}{O_3}$), acetic acid ($C{H_3}COOH$), formic acid ($C{H_2}{O_2}$), oxalic acid ($HOOC - COOH$), etc.
(2)Mineral acids: The acids which are found or can be obtained from rocks and minerals are known as mineral acids. They are usually strong acids and thus get easily or say completely ionised in water.
For example: hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid ($HN{O_3}$), sulphuric acid (${H_2}S{O_4}$), etc.
-The characteristic property of any acid is to conduct electricity due to their ability to release hydrogen ions when an acid is dissolved in water. In water these hydrogen ions will act as charge carriers and thus conduct electricity.
The mineral acids being strong acids get completely dissociated, thus producing more number of ions in the solution. Hence they strongly conduct electricity.
While the organic acids being weak acids are quite weakly dissociated, thus producing less number of ions and hence conduct electricity but weakly.
All acid solutions, whether organic acids or mineral acids conduct electricity.

So, the correct option will be: (C)

Note:
Acids turn blue litmus to red and their pH values are below 7 (0 is most acidic). They are corrosive in nature and usually are sour tasting substances. Acids usually react with metals and produce hydrogen gas. They are also good conductors of electricity.