Question map
Not attempted
Correct
Incorrect
★
Bookmarked
Loading…
Q127
(IAS/1998)
Science & Technology › Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) › Organic chemistry basics
Answer Verified
Assertion (A) : Formic acid is a stronger acid than acetic acid. Reason (R) : Formic acid is ah organic acid.
Result
Your answer:
—
·
Correct:
B
Explanation
Assertion (A) is true: formic acid (HCOOH) is stronger than acetic acid (CH3COOH). The standard rationale is that the conjugate base of formic acid (formate) is more stable than the acetate ion because the electron-releasing +I effect of the methyl group in acetate concentrates negative charge and destabilizes the conjugate base, making acetic acid less acidic. Both compounds are carboxylic (i.e., organic) acids, so the statement in Reason (R) is factually correct but does not explain why formic acid is stronger — classification as an "organic acid" says nothing about relative acidity. Quantitatively, formic acid has a lower pKa than acetic acid, consistent with greater acidity [1].
Sources
- [1] https://uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/media/lectures/6/6_2021_09_18!12_47_42_AM.pdf
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option.
Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
75%
got it right
✓ Thank you! We'll review this.