Chapter 18, Problem 46TAR

The three chemicals listed below are all very weak acids because they all have a difficult time losing a hydrogen ion, H⁺. Upon losing this hydrogen ion, the central atom of each of these molecules takes on a negative charge. Holding onto this negative charge isn’t easy, especially when there are positively charged hydrogen ions, H⁺, floating about ready to combine with this negative charge. Review the concept of electronegativity in Section 15.6, and rank the acidity of these molecules in order from strongest to weakest: (a) ammonia, NH₃; (b) water, H₂O; (c) methane, CH₄.