Q 8. Why do acids not show acidic behaviour in the absence of water?
Acids do not show acidic behaviour in the absence of water because acids form hydrogen ions [H+ (aq) ions] in their aqueous solution, which are responsible for their acidic characters, and the dissociation of hydrogen ions from an acid occurs only in the presence of water.
Therefore, in the absence of water, acids do not produce hydrogen ions and, hence, do not show acidic behaviour.
Acids do not show acidic behaviour in the absence of water because the dissociation of hydrogen ions from an acid occurs only in the presence of water.