Question

Why is benzoic acid is weaker than formic acid?

Answer 1

This clearly indicates that formic acidis a stronger acid than benzoic acid. We know that the acidity in carboxylicacids is basically due to the resonance stabilised carboxylate group in which the negative charge is well accommodated between the two electronegative oxygen atoms.

Answer 2

Answer:

Formic acid is stronger than benzoic acid because it has a lower pKa value (formic acid pKa = 3.751; benzoic acid pKa = 4.204; Acid dissociation constant). ... Formic acid has a C-H bond on the α Carbon atom (the Carbon in the -COOH group). Benzoic acid has a C-C bond on the same atom.

Explanation: