which is more acidic

Moderators: Chem_Mod, Chem_Admin

Parsia Vazirnia 2L
Posts: 44
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2016 3:00 am

which is more acidic

Postby Parsia Vazirnia 2L » Thu Nov 24, 2016 3:15 pm

Why is formic acid more acidic (HCOOH) than acetic acid (CH3COOH)?

Banik_Housepian_2K
Posts: 39
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 2:59 pm

Re: which is more acidic

Postby Banik_Housepian_2K » Thu Nov 24, 2016 3:22 pm

the H3- is electron-donating relative to hydrogen and it donates electrons to the carboxyl group which makes it more negative.
This causes the acid to be weaker, because the proton now has to be separated from a more negative conjugate base. likewise, CH3CH2- is more electron-donating than CH3-, and propionic acid is weaker still.

Parsia Vazirnia 2L
Posts: 44
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2016 3:00 am

Re: which is more acidic

Postby Parsia Vazirnia 2L » Thu Nov 24, 2016 3:30 pm

Banik_Housepian_1C wrote:the H3- is electron-donating relative to hydrogen and it donates electrons to the carboxyl group which makes it more negative.
This causes the acid to be weaker, because the proton now has to be separated from a more negative conjugate base. likewise, CH3CH2- is more electron-donating than CH3-, and propionic acid is weaker still.


How can the Hydrogens donate electrons? Please be as detailed as possible because I am trying really hard to visualize.

Charles Ang 1E
Posts: 50
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2017 3:00 am

Re: which is more acidic

Postby Charles Ang 1E » Fri Dec 01, 2017 10:21 am

Parsia Vazirnia 2L wrote:
Banik_Housepian_1C wrote:the H3- is electron-donating relative to hydrogen and it donates electrons to the carboxyl group which makes it more negative.
This causes the acid to be weaker, because the proton now has to be separated from a more negative conjugate base. likewise, CH3CH2- is more electron-donating than CH3-, and propionic acid is weaker still.


How can the Hydrogens donate electrons? Please be as detailed as possible because I am trying really hard to visualize.


Think of HCL, there are a total of 8 electrons. Chlorine has seven and will grab onto Hydrogen's electron in order to have an octet. In this sense, hydrogen is donating its electron to chlorine. The same goes for many other acids.


Return to “Properties & Structures of Inorganic & Organic Acids”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests