Compounds such as alcohols and glucose also contain hydrogen but are not categorized as acids. Describe an Activity to prove it.

Materials required — Bulb, switch, beaker, nails, battery, connecting wires, glucose, alcohol, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid

Procedure —

1. Fix two nails on a cork and place the cork in a 100 ml beaker.
2. Connect the nails to the two terminals of a 6 volt battery through a bulb and a switch, as shown in the figure above.
3. Now pour glucose and alcohol solutions one by one and switch on the current.
4. Repeat the activity using hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid.

Observation —

1. The bulb does not glow when glucose and alcohol are used.
2. Bulb glows when hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid are used.

Result — Glowing of the bulb indicates that there is a flow of electric current through the solution. The electric current is carried through the acidic solution by ions.

This activity proves that hydrogen containing compounds alcohols and glucose do not ionise to give H⁺(aq) ions, hence, they are not categorized as acids.