What occurs when strong acids are dissolved in water?

When strong acids are dissolved in water, they ionise completely, meaning they dissociate into their constituent ions, releasing all available hydrogen ions into the solution. This process creates a high concentration of hydrogen ions, which is what characterizes a strong acid and leads to a low pH level in the resulting solution.

For example, hydrochloric acid (HCl) dissociates in water to form hydrogen ions (H⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻). This complete ionisation is a defining feature of strong acids, contrasting with weak acids that only partially ionise in solution. Thus, the complete release of hydrogen ions accounts for the strong acidic properties and the ability to conduct electricity in the solution.