Chapter 6, Problem 6.53P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The acids HCl, HBr, and HI are to be ranked from the least acidic to the most acidic on the basis of charge stability.

Concept introduction:

The stability of an anion increases with the increasing size of the anion as the charge is less concentrated, spread over a larger volume. Within a group, the size of the anion follows the same trend as the size of the atom – it increases from the top to the bottom of the group.

Therefore, the anion of an element farther down the group is more stable than that of the ones above it.