Question

Explain why the stability of oxoacids of chlorine increases in the order given below: HClO < HClO₂ < HClO₃ < HClO₄

Answer 1

Oxygen is more electronegative than chlorine, therefore dispersal of negative charge present on chlorine increases from ClO^– to ClO₄ ^– ion because number of oxygen atoms attached to chlorine is increasing. Therefore, stability of ions will increase in the order given below :

ClO^– < ClO₂^– < ClO₃^– < ClO₄^–  

Thus due to increase in stability of conjugate base, acidic strength of corresponding acid increases in the following order

HClO < HClO₂ < HClO₃ < HClO₄

Answer 2

The oxiding power of HClO4, HClO3, HCLO2, HClO are in the order

 HClO >HCLO2 >HClO3>HClO4 because the oxidising states of chlorine in HClO4, HClO3, HCLO2, HClO are 7,5,3,1 respectively so HClO with lowest oxidation state of chlorine have greatest tendency to get oxidised and increase its oxidation state.

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