So in class my professor was trying to explain to us that we shouldn't rely on electronegativity to determine which acid is stronger.
His example was that H2S is a stronger acid than H2O, even though O is more electronegative, because atom size is more important than electronegativity.
So now I'm doing homework and the question is which one is a stronger acid: HOCL or HOBR?
The answer is HOCL because it is more electronegative... which confused me because BR is a larger atom, making it identical to the question in class, but in this one electronegativity determined which was stronger.
What's the difference? How do I know which rule to use?
His example was that H2S is a stronger acid than H2O, even though O is more electronegative, because atom size is more important than electronegativity.
So now I'm doing homework and the question is which one is a stronger acid: HOCL or HOBR?
The answer is HOCL because it is more electronegative... which confused me because BR is a larger atom, making it identical to the question in class, but in this one electronegativity determined which was stronger.
What's the difference? How do I know which rule to use?
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Atom size is more important; large atoms mean longer, weaker bonds. Just like it's easier to pull apart two magnets that are already far away from each other, it's easier to lose H from a longer bond. i.e. HBr is a stronger acid than HCl.
Here's the catch: Because we're talking about bond lengths, only the atom that H is bonded to counts for atom size. In the case of HOCl and HOBr, H is bonded to O in both. In this case, atom size is a tie, so you look at electronegativity. Cl is more electronegative, so HOCl is a stronger acid than HOBr.
Here's the catch: Because we're talking about bond lengths, only the atom that H is bonded to counts for atom size. In the case of HOCl and HOBr, H is bonded to O in both. In this case, atom size is a tie, so you look at electronegativity. Cl is more electronegative, so HOCl is a stronger acid than HOBr.
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dont u have an acids strength chart? thats what i use