Nitrous acid, HNO 2, is classified as a weak acid in water. This means that it produces

A. 100% of the maximum number of possible hydronium ions.

B. no hydronium ions.

C. a relatively small fraction of the maximum number of possible hydronium ions.

D. a relatively large fraction of the maximum number of possible hydronium ions.

C

Explanation:

While some dilute acids are said to be weak, some are said to be strong. Now, the principal basis for this classification is based on the extent of ionization in water.

While strong acids ionize completely to give the maximum number of Oxonium ions, weak acids only ionize to an extent and thus do not give the full needed oxonium ions. Hence, we say they gave only a fraction and we term the ionization partial or incomplete.

Asa weak acid, nitrous acid is expected to ionize slightly and not completely. This makes it produce only a fraction of the expected oxonium ions in water