What can be said about a strong acid in an aqueous solution?

A strong acid in an aqueous solution is characterized by its complete ionization. This means that when a strong acid is dissolved in water, it dissociates completely into its constituent ions. For instance, hydrochloric acid (HCl), a common strong acid, fully dissociates in water to produce hydrogen ions (H⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻).

This complete ionization is what distinguishes strong acids from weak acids, which only partially ionize in solution. The ability of a strong acid to completely disassociate contributes to the high concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution, leading to a very low pH, typically below 3 for strong acids.

Additionally, because strong acids fully ionize, they are good conductors of electricity in aqueous solutions. The presence of the free-moving ions allows electric current to flow, thus contradicting any claim that a strong acid cannot conduct electricity.

In summary, the defining characteristic of a strong acid in an aqueous solution is its complete ionization into ions, which fundamentally affects the acid's behavior in solution, including its conductivity and pH.