Rank the following compounds in order of increasing acidity, putting the least acidic first.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The acidity of a compound is determined by the stability of its conjugate base. The more stable the conjugate base, the more acidic the compound.

I: This is a carboxylic acid with a stable resonance structure in its conjugate base, making it the most acidic among the four compounds.

II: This is an alcohol which does not stabilize its conjugate base as efficiently as a carboxylic acid.

III: This is an aldehyde which is slightly more acidic than the alcohol due to the presence of a carbonyl group (electronegative oxygen).

IV: This is an amine which is less acidic than the other three compounds because it does not produce a stable conjugate base.

Rank the Following Compounds in Order of Increasing Acidity, Putting