What is the effect of a -I group on the acidity of carboxylic acids?

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Q: What is the effect of a -I group on the acidity of carboxylic acids?

Solution: A -I group increases the acidity of carboxylic acids by stabilizing the negative charge on the conjugate base.

Steps: 6

Step 1: Understand what a carboxylic acid is. It is a type of organic compound that has a carboxyl group (-COOH).
Step 2: Know what a -I group is. A -I group is an electron-withdrawing group that pulls electrons away from the rest of the molecule.
Step 3: Recognize that when a carboxylic acid donates a proton (H+), it forms a conjugate base. This conjugate base has a negative charge.
Step 4: Understand that the stability of the conjugate base is important. If the conjugate base is more stable, the carboxylic acid is more likely to donate a proton, making it more acidic.
Step 5: Learn that a -I group stabilizes the negative charge on the conjugate base. It does this by pulling electron density away, which helps to spread out the negative charge.
Step 6: Conclude that because the -I group stabilizes the conjugate base, it increases the acidity of the carboxylic acid.