Acids are usually defined as compounds that when dissolved in water, give off a solution of hydrogen ion activity greater than pure water. Another method to classify acids is if they donate protons. There are many acids used for different purposes such as vinegar (which contains acetate) and lemon juice for flavor.
Acidic solutions have a pH of less than 7.
There are generally two types of acids: Strong acids and weak acids.
Strong acids, such as HCl and HBr, completely deionize when dissolved in an aqueous solution. In other words, every single molecule of the strong acid will break up into its constituent ions when dissolved in an aqueous solution due to the dipole-ion interactions between the polar solvent and the dipole molecule.
Weak acids, such as carbonic acid, acetic acid or ethanoic acid, do not dissociate in water as easily, as their ions are rather tightly bound to their central configuration. This configuration usually has carbon in it in weak acids, and single atoms from groups 14 to 17, period 2, in strong acids. Strong acids usually have multiple ions.
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