Question

The correct order of acid strength is
(a) HClO4 < HClO3 < HClO2 < HClO
(b) HCIO < HClO2 < HClO3 < HClO4
(c) HClO4 < HClO < HClO2 < HClO3
(d) HClO2 < HClO3 < HClO4 < HClO

Answer 1

The answer is option (b)

(b) HCIO < HClO2 < HClO3 < HClO4

Important point to remember,

The acidity is based on the oxidation states of the compound

Higher the oxidation state means more acidic in nature

Here we have

HCIO, HClO2, HClO3, HClO4

The oxidation state of,

HClO is +1

HClO is +1HClO2 is +3

HClO is +1HClO2 is +3HClO3 is +5

HClO is +1HClO2 is +3HClO3 is +5HClO4 is +7

Since, higher oxidation state among the following is HClO4 with +5 oxidation state

Therefore HClO4 is most acidic

{With this information itself we can conclude option (b) is correct because only one option i.e., option (b) has HClO4 with highest acidic strength}

Similarly +5 > +3 > +1 in oxidation state,

Acidic strength is also in same order

Therefore,

HCIO < HClO2 < HClO3 < HClO4

Option (b) is correct