Which of the following acids has the smallest dissociation constant ?(a) CH3CHFCOOH(b) FCH2CH2COOH(c) BrCH2CH2COOH(d) CH3CHBrCOOH

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Grade upto college level Organic Chemistry

Which of the following acids has the smallest dissociation constant ?
(a) CH₃CHFCOOH
(b) FCH₂CH₂COOH
(c) BrCH₂CH₂COOH
(d) CH₃CHBrCOOH

Amit Saxena

12 Years agoGrade upto college level

1 Answer

Navjyot Kalra

12 Years ago

Hello Student,

Please find the answer to your question

(i) The inductive effect decreases with increase in distance of halogen atom from the carboxylic group and hence the strength of acid proportionally decreases.

(ii) The acidity increases with the increase in electronegativity of the halogen present.

Smallest dissociation constant means weakest acid, which is BrCH₂CH₂OOH because here Br (less electronegative than F ) is two carbon atoms away from –COOH.

Thanks
Navjyot Kalra
askIITians Faculty