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JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3g1180

Which is the correct order of acidity of the C-H bonds of ethane, ethene and ethyne?

  1. Aethyne > ethane > ethene
  2. Bethane > ethene > ethyne
  3. Cethyne > ethene > ethane
  4. Dethene > ethyne > ethane

Answer: C

Acidity follows the stability of the carbanion formed, which increases with s-character of the lone-pair orbital: sp (50%) in ethynide, sp2 (33%) in vinyl anion, sp3 (25%) in ethyl anion. Hence ethyne > ethene > ethane.
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