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NEET levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 1 of 3g2003

Which of the following carboxylic acids is the strongest?

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D

Answer: B

Each chlorine on the alpha carbon exerts a -I effect that stabilises the carboxylate ion. The effect adds up with the number of chlorine atoms, so trichloroacetic acid (pKa about 0.7) is the strongest of the four.
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