The behavior of strong acids and bases is similar to that of salts. Strong acids dissociate completely in water (below) with the liberation of a proton (hydrogen ion):

Sulfuric acid also releases a second proton, but only incompletely, as a weak acid.) Strong bases in aqueous solution produce hydroxide ions:

Since these compounds dissociate completely in water, the concentration of H⁺ or OH^- ions produced is the same as the overall concentration of the added acid or base. The concentration of hydrogen ions in
a tenth-molar solution of nitric acid is 0. 10 mole per liter.