

InterviewSolution
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The acidity of compounds I-IV in waterI. ethanolII. acetic acidIII. phenolIV. acetonitrilefollows the order(a) IV < I < III < II(b) I < II < III < IV(c) IV < I < II < III(d) IV < III < I < II |
Answer» Answer is : (a) IV < I < III < II The acidity of compounds in water depends upon the ease with which it can lose H+ ions. Acetic acid is the strongest acid as the negative charge on carboxylate ion (conjugate base) is delocalised over two oxygen atoms. Hence, H+ ion can be easily lost. The next strongest acidic compound phenol. This is because the phenoxide ion is resonance stabilised. This easily allows the H to leave as H+ ion. Among acetonitrile and ethanol, ethanol is more acidic, this is because in ethanol the H-atom is directly attached to more electronegative atom, O. Thus, the correct order of acidity of compound I-IV in water will be IV < I < III < II. |
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