Which of the following would have the strongest tendency for producing H⁺ ions in an aqueous solution? A) NH₃ B) HNO₂ C) H₂S D) HNO₃ E) CH₃COOH

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The strongest tendency for producing H⁺ ions in an aqueous solution is exhibited by an acid that is both strong and has a high acid dissociation constant (pKa). Of the given options, HNO₃ has the highest acidity due to the presence of the nitro group (-NO2) which strongly withdraws electron density from the adjacent oxygen atom, making it a better proton donor. Furthermore, the presence of the sulfonic acid group (-SO3H) ensures that even the slightest amount of acid dissociation would result in the formation of a significant number of H⁺ ions.

Which of the Following Would Have the Strongest Tendency for Producing