Which of the following increases the strength of an oxo acid, HYO_n? A)increasing the electron affinity of Y and increasing the number of oxygen atoms, n B)decreasing the electron affinity of Y and increasing the number of oxygen atoms, n C)increasing the electron affinity of Y and decreasing the number of oxygen atoms, n D)decreasing the electron affinity of Y and decreasing the number of oxygen atoms, n E)lowering the electron affinity of Y and increasing the number of oxygen atoms, n

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The strength of an oxo acid is influenced by the polarity of the O-H bond and the stability of the conjugate base formed after donating the proton. The electron affinity of Y affects the stability of the oxyanion formed after deprotonation, and increasing it stabilizes the negative charge, making it easier to donate the H+ ion. The number of oxygen atoms in the molecule also affects the electronegativity of the central atom and hence the polarity of the O-H bond. Increasing n increases the polarity and thus the acidic strength. Therefore, increasing the electron affinity of Y and increasing the number of oxygen atoms, n, would increase the strength of the oxo acid.

Which of the Following Increases the Strength of an Oxo