Acid Strength Carboxylic Vs Alcohol
Easychemistry
Carboxylic acids are stronger acids than alcohols because:
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Solution
Incorrect! Answer:
Their conjugate base is resonance stabilized
- Acid Behavior: HA⇌H++A−. Stability of A− (conjugate base) determines acid strength.
- Carboxylic Acid: When it loses a proton, the carboxylate ion (RCOO−) is formed.
- Resonance: In carboxylate, the negative charge is delocalized over two highly electronegative oxygen atoms (O−˙C−˙O). These are equivalent structures, providing immense stabilization.
- Alcohol: When it loses a proton, the alkoxide ion (RO−) is formed. The charge is localized on a single oxygen atom and is actually destablized by the +I effect of the alkyl group.
- Conclusion: Greater stability of carboxylate makes carboxylic acids much stronger acids.
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- basic organic principles
- Topic
- acid strength carboxylic vs alcohol
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Year
- 2025
This easy difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter basic organic principles, covering the topic of acid strength carboxylic vs alcohol. It appeared in the 2025 exam. Practice this and similar questions to strengthen your understanding of basic organic principles concepts.
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