Which acid is stronger: HClO2 or HClO3?
Can you also explain why?
Your school subject appears to be chemistry.
The series of H, Cl, and O acids are as follows:
HClO4 = perchloric acid
HClO3 = chloric acid
HClO2 = chlorous acid
HClO = hypochlorous acid
The general rule is that the acid is stronger if it has more O atoms in a series such as this. HClO4, perchloric acid, is a very strong acid as is HClO3. HClO2 is a weak acid and HClO is even weaker.
HClO3 (chloric acid) is stronger than HClO2 (chlorous acid).
The strength of an acid is determined by its ability to dissociate and release hydrogen ions (H+). In the case of HClO2 and HClO3, the difference lies in the number of oxygen atoms bonded to the central chlorine atom.
HClO2 contains two oxygen atoms, while HClO3 contains three oxygen atoms. As the number of oxygen atoms increases, the acid becomes stronger. This is because oxygen is an electronegative element and helps stabilize the negative charge on the chlorine atom. The presence of more oxygen atoms enhances the acidity of the hydrogen atom bonded to the chlorine, making it easier for HClO3 to ionize and release H+ ions compared to HClO2.
Therefore, due to the presence of more oxygen atoms, HClO3 is a stronger acid than HClO2.
To determine which acid is stronger, we need to compare their relative acid strengths. Acid strength is mainly determined by the tendency of an acid to donate a proton (H+ ion) in solution. The strength of an acid is usually related to its tendency to dissociate into ions.
The strength of oxyacids (acids containing oxygen) generally increases with the number of oxygen atoms bonded to the central atom. More specifically, the number of oxygen atoms bonded to the central atom helps to determine the polarity of the molecule, which affects its acidity.
HClO2, also known as chlorous acid, has fewer oxygen atoms than HClO3, which is known as chloric acid. Chlorous acid has two oxygen atoms, while chloric acid has three oxygen atoms.
In terms of acidity, HClO3 (chloric acid) is stronger than HClO2 (chlorous acid). The extra oxygen atom in HClO3 enhances electron-withdrawing effects, making the acid more polar and increasing its acidity. The additional oxygen atom facilitates the dissociation of chloric acid, making it more likely to donate a proton (H+) in solution compared to chlorous acid.
To summarize, HClO3 (chloric acid) is stronger than HClO2 (chlorous acid) due to the presence of an extra oxygen atom, which increases the polarity of the molecule and enhances its acidity.