Practicing Success
Which of the following will have the highest acidic strength? |
Butanoic acid 2-Chlorobutanoic acid 3-Chlorobutanoic acid 4-Chlorobutanoic acid |
2-Chlorobutanoic acid |
Halogen substituted carboxylic acids are stronger acid than their respective parent acids, because of the electron withdrawing and stabilizing nature of the halogen. Furthermore, as the distance of the halogen form the -COOH group increases, the electron withdrawing influence decreases, and therefore the acidic character decreases. |