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NEET Chemistry QUESTION #1068
Question 1
The correct order of decreasing acidity of the following aliphatic acids is:
  • HCOOH \(>\) CH\(_3\)COOH \(>\) (CH\(_3)_2\)CHCOOH \(>\) (CH\(_3)_3\)CCOOH✔️
  • HCOOH \(>\) (CH\(_3)_3\)CCOOH \(>\) (CH\(_3)_2\)CHCOOH \(>\) CH\(_3\)COOH
  • (CH\(_3)_3\)CCOOH \(>\) (CH\(_3)_2\)CHCOOH \(>\) CH\(_3\)COOH \(>\) HCOOH
  • CH\(_3\)COOH \(>\) (CH\(_3)_2\)CHCOOH \(>\) (CH\(_3)_3\)CCOOH \(>\) HCOOH
Correct Answer Explanation
Acidity of carboxylic acids decreases as alkyl group size increases due to +I (electron-donating inductive) effect destabilizing the carboxylate anion. HCOOH has no alkyl group (most acidic), then CH\(_3\)COOH, then (CH\(_3)_2\)CHCOOH, then (CH\(_3)_3\)CCOOH (least acidic). Order: HCOOH \(>\) CH\(_3\)COOH \(>\) (CH\(_3)_2\)CHCOOH \(>\) (CH\(_3)_3\)CCOOH.