Chemistry 12th Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0078021510
ISBN 13: 978-0-07802-151-0

Chapter 15 - Acids and Bases - Questions & Problems - Page 712: 15.71

Answer

$CHCl_2COOH$ is the stronger acid due to the presence of an additional chlorine.

Work Step by Step

Since chlorine is a very electronegative element, its presence in the carbon chain shifts electron density toward the R group, making the O-H bond more polar, and consequently, the hydrogen will be donated more easily. $CHCl_2COOH$ has more chlorines in the chain than $CH_2ClCOOH$; therefore, it is a stronger acid.
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