12.53

[Rachel Lu_dis1H]

The question is "suggest an explanation for the different strengths of (a) acetic acid and trichloroacetic acid; (b) acetic acid and formic acid."
Will we need to memorize what acetic acid and all the other acids are?

[Nha Dang 2I]

Here's a thread with the explanation of the question: viewtopic.php?t=8795
In terms of memorization of strong acids/bases, I believe we just have to (or it would be helpful to) memorize the common ones, like the "strong six" acids (HCl, HBr, HI, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, HClO₄) and the theme for strong bases which is Group 1&2 Hydroxides/Oxides.

[Andrea ORiordan 1L]

The main concept for that question is that having more electronegative atoms on an acid makes it stronger-- when a proton is released, the resulting anion is more stable as a result of the electronegative atoms stabilizing the negative charge left by the release of the proton.