Oxoacids

[VahagnAldzhyan]

Why is it that having more bonded oxygens creates stability around the molecule?

[Hazem Nasef 1I]

It's not necessarily having more oxygens, but rather having more atoms that stabilize the anion by withdrawing delocalizing the negative charge. For example, as Dr. Lavelle discussed in class, trichloroacetic acid (an acetic acid molecule in which the three hydrogen atoms are replaced with chlorine atoms) is a stronger acid than acetic acid because the three chlorine atoms delocalize the negative charge of the oxygen.

Hope this helps!

[605011646]

Can anions be more stable due to the delocalizing being done by more electronegative atoms?

[Justin Chang 2K]

Yeah, more electronegative elements can help stabilize and delocalize the charge.

[Clarisse Wikstrom 1H]

This explains why oxoacids are strong acids. They are more willing to lose their H+ because after losing the H+, they have more options for resonance, which makes the compound more stable.