sähkösuureet

Sähkösuureet is a Finnish term that literally means “electric acids.” It is not a standard category in modern chemistry, and it rarely appears in current textbooks. Historically, the term has been used in some Finnish sources to describe acids in the context of electrochemical reactions or to refer to substances that enable electrical conduction in solution. Today, the concept is largely superseded by more precise terminology.

In contemporary chemistry, the closest proper concept is electrolytes. An electrolyte is a substance that dissociates into ions when dissolved or melted, allowing an electric current to flow. Acids are a subset of electrolytes in aqueous solution, described by Arrhenius or Brønsted–Lowry theories. Strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) or sulfuric acid (H2SO4), dissociate nearly completely and are strong electrolytes; weak acids, such as acetic acid (CH3COOH), dissociate only partially and are weak electrolytes.

The term sähkösuureet, when used, overlaps with the idea that acids can act as electrolytes, but it does not denote a scientifically distinct class. In practical terms, acids used as electrolytes include sulfuric acid in lead‑acid batteries and various acids in electrochemical cells. In current Finnish chemistry usage, the concepts are more accurately described with elektrolyytti (electrolyte) and happo (acid), rather than with the broad, historic term sähkösuureet.