Question

Which of the following is a mineral acid -
(a) Oxalic acid
(b) Acetic acid
(c) Hydrochloric acid
(d) Citric acid

Answer 1

Hydrochloric acid(HCL)is a mineral acid

Answer 2

The right response to the given question is option c: Hydrochloric acid.

• Mineral acids can be characterized based on two things:

1. What it yields on dissociation along with H⁺ ions
2. Whether it is made up of organic substances or inorganic minerals

• If on dissociation it yields protons along with the conjugate base that does not contain carbon atom then it is mineral acid.
• Also, it is made up of hydrogen and inorganic molecule.
• Oxalic acid, acetic acid, and citric acid are organic acids that on dissociation yields proton and conjugate base that contains carbon so they are not mineral acid.
• Hydrochloric acid is the mineral acid because it yields proton along with conjugate base as chloride ion which is from inorganic mineral.
• Hence, option c is correct in this context.