Which of the following is the strongest carboxylic acid? (2022)
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following is the strongest carboxylic acid? (2022)
Formic acid
Acetic acid
Propanoic acid
Butanoic acid
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following is the strongest carboxylic acid? (2022)
Step 1: Understand what a carboxylic acid is. It is a type of organic compound that contains a carboxyl group (-COOH).
Step 2: Identify the options given in the question. We need to compare the acidity of these carboxylic acids.
Step 3: Recall that the strength of a carboxylic acid is determined by how easily it can donate a proton (H+).
Step 4: Recognize that formic acid (HCOOH) has a hydrogen atom directly attached to the carbonyl carbon (C=O).
Step 5: Understand that this hydrogen atom increases the acidity of formic acid compared to other carboxylic acids that may have larger or more complex structures.
Step 6: Conclude that formic acid is the strongest carboxylic acid among the options because of its structure.