Acids in simple terms can be thought to be compounds which donates hydrogen when dissolved in water. So, what do we make of monoprotic acid and polyprotic acid? The difference is in the ability to donate hydrogens. Monoprotic acids have only a single hydrogen to donate, while polyprotic acids have multiple hydrogens ions to be donated. This Part 4 of notes for SPM Chemistry Form 4 on Acids and Bases from Berry Berry Easy will be on the important definition of acids, which is described from monoprotic acids and polyprotic acids.
[Tips: Rather than remembering monoprotic and polyprotic by heart, maybe it is better to understand the name behind it. Mono means single while poly means multiple. So anything with a mono in front of it means single, while anything with a poly as prefix means the multiple of mono.]
SPM Chemistry Form 4 Notes – Acids and Bases (Part 4)
Sodium hydroxide
Important Definition for Acids
Monoprotic acid (monobasic acid) is an acid which produce one mole of H+ ion when one mole of the acid ionise in water.
| Monoprotic acid | Monoprotic acid name |
| HCl | Hydrochloric acid |
| HNO3 | Nitric acid |
| CH3COOH | Ethanoic acid |
.
Polyprotic acids
Diprotic acid (dibasic acid) is an acid which produce two moles of H+ ios from one mole of the acid in water.
| Diprotic acid | Diprotic acid name |
| H2SO4 | Sulphuric acid |
| H2CO3 | Carbonic acid |
| H2CrO4 | Chromic acid |
| H2C2O4 | Ethanedioic acid / Oxalate acid |
Triprotic acid (tribasic acid) is an acid which produce three moles of H+ ions from one mole of the acid in water.
| Triprotic acid | Triprotic acid name |
| H3PO4 | Phosphoric acid |
| C6H8O7 | Citric acid |
We have reached the end of Part 4 of the notes for SPM Chemistry Form 4 on Acids and Bases from Berry Berry Easy. In the next part in the series, you’ll learn about the berry berry important pH scale – colour of the universal indicator. Very important for exams, so do stay tuned.
