**Question:** Which of the following is the strongest acid? Provide a justification for your answer. a. CCl₃COOH b. CH₂BrCOOH c. CHCl₂COOH d. CH₃COOH e. CH₂ClCOOH **Analysis:** To determine the strongest acid among the given options, consider the effect of electronegative substituents on the carboxylic acid group. In general, the presence of electronegative atoms like Cl or Br near the carboxyl group increases the acid strength due to an inductive effect that stabilizes the conjugate base. - **a. CCl₃COOH**: Trichloroacetic acid, with three highly electronegative chlorine atoms, provides a strong inductive effect, making it a very strong acid. - **b. CH₂BrCOOH**: Bromoacetic acid, with a bromine atom, also exhibits an inductive effect but is weaker compared to trichloroacetic acid. - **c. CHCl₂COOH**: Dichloroacetic acid has two chlorine atoms providing a strong inductive effect, but it is less strong than trichloroacetic acid. - **d. CH₃COOH**: Acetic acid has no electronegative substituents, so it is the weakest acid in this group. - **e. CH₂ClCOOH**: Chloroacetic acid has one chlorine atom, offering an inductive effect, but it is weaker than dichloroacetic and trichloroacetic acids. **Conclusion:** The strongest acid is **a. CCl₃COOH** (trichloroacetic acid) due to the strong inductive effect from three chlorine atoms. This effect greatly stabilizes the conjugate base, leading to increased acidity.

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**Question:**

Which of the following is the strongest acid? Provide a justification for your answer.

a. CCl₃COOH  
b. CH₂BrCOOH  
c. CHCl₂COOH  
d. CH₃COOH  
e. CH₂ClCOOH

**Analysis:**

To determine the strongest acid among the given options, consider the effect of electronegative substituents on the carboxylic acid group. In general, the presence of electronegative atoms like Cl or Br near the carboxyl group increases the acid strength due to an inductive effect that stabilizes the conjugate base.

- **a. CCl₃COOH**: Trichloroacetic acid, with three highly electronegative chlorine atoms, provides a strong inductive effect, making it a very strong acid.
- **b. CH₂BrCOOH**: Bromoacetic acid, with a bromine atom, also exhibits an inductive effect but is weaker compared to trichloroacetic acid.
- **c. CHCl₂COOH**: Dichloroacetic acid has two chlorine atoms providing a strong inductive effect, but it is less strong than trichloroacetic acid.
- **d. CH₃COOH**: Acetic acid has no electronegative substituents, so it is the weakest acid in this group.
- **e. CH₂ClCOOH**: Chloroacetic acid has one chlorine atom, offering an inductive effect, but it is weaker than dichloroacetic and trichloroacetic acids.

**Conclusion:**

The strongest acid is **a. CCl₃COOH** (trichloroacetic acid) due to the strong inductive effect from three chlorine atoms. This effect greatly stabilizes the conjugate base, leading to increased acidity.
Transcribed Image Text:**Question:** Which of the following is the strongest acid? Provide a justification for your answer. a. CCl₃COOH b. CH₂BrCOOH c. CHCl₂COOH d. CH₃COOH e. CH₂ClCOOH **Analysis:** To determine the strongest acid among the given options, consider the effect of electronegative substituents on the carboxylic acid group. In general, the presence of electronegative atoms like Cl or Br near the carboxyl group increases the acid strength due to an inductive effect that stabilizes the conjugate base. - **a. CCl₃COOH**: Trichloroacetic acid, with three highly electronegative chlorine atoms, provides a strong inductive effect, making it a very strong acid. - **b. CH₂BrCOOH**: Bromoacetic acid, with a bromine atom, also exhibits an inductive effect but is weaker compared to trichloroacetic acid. - **c. CHCl₂COOH**: Dichloroacetic acid has two chlorine atoms providing a strong inductive effect, but it is less strong than trichloroacetic acid. - **d. CH₃COOH**: Acetic acid has no electronegative substituents, so it is the weakest acid in this group. - **e. CH₂ClCOOH**: Chloroacetic acid has one chlorine atom, offering an inductive effect, but it is weaker than dichloroacetic and trichloroacetic acids. **Conclusion:** The strongest acid is **a. CCl₃COOH** (trichloroacetic acid) due to the strong inductive effect from three chlorine atoms. This effect greatly stabilizes the conjugate base, leading to increased acidity.
Expert Solution
Step 1: Define Acidity

Acidity is defined as the ability of a molecule to release protons.  If a compound  easily donates proton it is highly acidic.  it depends on the stability of the conjugate base.

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