(a)Why do acids not show acidic behavior in the absence of water?

(b)Why does an aqueous solution of acid conduct electricity?

(c)Why does distilled water not conduct electricity whereas rainwater does?

Answer:

(a) When acids are dissolved in water, their acid behaviour is mostly owing to the presence of hydrogen ions. Because the dissociation of hydrogen ions from an acid occurs exclusively in the presence of water, it does not have an acidic property in the absence of water.

(b) Due to the presence of charged particles, an acid aqueous solution conducts electricity. Ions are the charged particles here. Ions of hydrogen and hydronium. Acids conduct electricity because they convey electric currents.

(c) Because distilled water is the purest water available, it is free of all ionic species and hence does not transmit electricity. However, because rainwater is not pure, it contains pollutants and consequently conducts electricity.