Rank the following protons in decreasing order (most to least) of acidity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The acidity of a proton is related to its ability to be removed by a base. Proton III is most acidic because it is bonded to an electronegative oxygen atom, making it more polar and easier to remove. Proton II is slightly less acidic because it is still bonded to a polar oxygen atom, but it is also attached to a carbon atom which slightly decreases its acidity. Proton I is the least acidic because it is attached to a nonpolar carbon atom, making it much harder to remove compared to the other two protons. Therefore, the correct order of decreasing acidity is III > II > I.

Rank the Following Protons in Decreasing Order (Most to Least)