03 Question (1 point) a See page 678 Acetic acid (CH3COOH) and trifluoroacetic a

Question

03 Question (1 point) a See page 678 Acetic acid (CH3COOH) and trifluoroacetic acid (CF3COOH) are shown by these particulate models. The Ka for trifluoroacetic acid is 104 times greater than acetic acid. Use the models to account for the differences in magnitude for the Ka constant. The green atoms are fluorine, the red atoms are oxygen, the black atoms are carbon, and the white atoms are hydrogen 2nd attempt Part 1 (0.7 point) d See Periodic Table See Hint Write the formulas for the conjugate bases for the two structures.

Explanation / Answer

Part-1

The conjugate base of acetic acid is acetate ion (CH3COO)

The conjugate base of trifluoroacetic acid is trifluoroacetate ion (CF3COO)

Part-2

Answer C

Trifluoroacetic acid is stronger than acetic acid because its conjugate base can better stabilize the negative charge. In both the conjugate bases, they can stabilize the negative charge via resonance in the carboxylate functional group. However, trifluoroacetic acid also has three highly electronegative fluorine atoms (CF3 moiety) which withdraw electron density through the single bonds. So our negative charge will be slightly drawn through the bonds toward the fluorines, thus it is further delocalized and thus more stable.

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