Of the given options, which is (i) the strongest acid, and (ii) which is the potentially chiral acid?
#"a. acetic acid;"#
#"b."# #HClFC-CO_2H#
#"c."# #Cl_2HC-CO_2H#
#"d."# #H_3C-CO_2H#
1 Answer
The answer is
Explanation:
I take it that this is a 2nd year inorganic chemistry problem. Halogen substitution on the carboxylic acid reduces the charge density of the carboxylate anion,
Note that this is an old problem, and it is well-known that this is an entropy phenomenon.
As to chirality, only chlorofluoroacetic acid bears a chiral centre, which is on the substituted methyl group bound to carboxylate carbon. This carbon has 4 different substituents: the carboxyl group; the hydrogen; and the 2 different halogens.