List the following acids in order of increasing acid strength: HOCl, HClO₃, HClO₄. A) HOCl

Question

List the following acids in order of increasing acid strength: HOCl, HClO₃, HClO₄. A) HOCl < HClO₃ < HClO₄ B) HClO₄ < HClO₃ < HOCl C) HClO₃ < HClO₄ < HOCl D) HOCl < HClO₄ < HClO₃ E) HClO₃ < HClO < HClO₄

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Unicode characters in the options represent isotopes of sulfur, with ₃ and ₄ likely intended to be sulfur-34 (^34S) and sulfur-36 (^36S), respectively. Acid strength is not significantly affected by isotope effects for elements heavier than hydrogen, so the order of acid strength is determined by the structure of the acids. HOCl is hypochlorous acid, a weak acid. Without specific structures provided for the other acids and assuming the isotopes do not significantly affect acid strength, the order is likely based on a misunderstanding of the question. However, given the typical understanding that isotopic substitution (especially for elements heavier than hydrogen) does not significantly alter acid strength, the correct answer would be based on the assumption that all acids have similar strengths, but since the isotopes should not affect the ranking, the question seems flawed as presented.

List the Following Acids in Order of Increasing Acid Strength