The strongest acid amongst the following compounds is :

The strongest acid amongst the following compounds is :
  1. $\mathrm{HCOOH}$
  2. $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{CH}(\mathrm{Cl}) \mathrm{CO}_2 \mathrm{H}$
  3. $\mathrm{ClCH}_2 \mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{COOH}$
  4. $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{COOH}$

Solution

Electron releasing groups (Alkyl groups) de stabilizes conjugate base. The $+$ I effect of $\mathrm{C}_3 \mathrm{H}_7$ is less than $-1$ effect of $\mathrm{Cl}$ $\mathrm{K}_{\mathrm{a}}$ of $\mathrm{HCOOH}$ is $17.9 \times 10^{-5}$ $\mathrm{K}_{\mathrm{a}}$ of $\mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{CH}_2 \underset{\mathrm{Cl}}{\mathrm{CH}}-\mathrm{COOH}$ is $139 \times 10^{-5}$

Asked in: JEE Main 2011

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