Which of the following acids would have the smallest value for pK_a1? A)HOOCCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂COOH B)HOOCCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂COOH C)HOOCCH₂CH₂CH₂COOH D)HOOCCH₂CH₂COOH E)HOOCCH₂COOH

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The smaller the value of pK_a1, the stronger the acid. As we move from option A to option E, we see that the number of sulfur atoms in the molecule is decreasing. As sulfur is less electronegative than oxygen, sulfur-containing acids are generally weaker than oxygen-containing acids. Therefore, the acid with only one sulfur atom (option E) would have the largest value of pK_a1, making it the strongest acid among the options given.

Which of the Following Acids Would Have the Smallest Value