Acid strength chart

The Acid Strengths Chart ranks acids by how readily they donate a proton, H⁺, during a chemical reaction. This tendency is commonly expressed by the pKa value: the lower the pKa, the stronger the acid. The chart turns an invisible exchange between molecules into a practical scale, allowing chemists to compare chemical substances such as hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, water, and alcohols.

Laboratory chemists, pharmaceutical scientists, and organic chemists use acid-strength data to predict the direction of proton-transfer reactions, select reagents, design buffer solutions, and control pH. The chart also reveals an important chemical relationship: a strong acid forms a weak conjugate base, while a weak acid forms a stronger conjugate base. This simple pattern helps explain why some reactions proceed almost completely while others settle into equilibrium.

The Chemistry mobile app includes the Acid Strengths Chart for quick access during chemical calculations, experiments, and study. Download the application and use the table to explore pKa values, compare acids and bases, and predict how chemical substances will behave in a reaction.