Question

Why do HCl, HNO₃, etc., show acidic characters in aqueous solutions while solutions of compounds like alcohol and glucose do not show acidic character?
 

Answer 1

When HCl or HNO₃ are mixed with water then they dissolve in water to form H⁺ or H₃O⁺ ions which shows their acidic character. For example just see the following reactions

HCl (aq) → H⁺ + Cl^-

H⁺ + H₂O → H₃O⁺

When alcohols and glucose are mixed with water then they do not dissolve to form ions. Hence they do not show acidic character.