Question

List four factors that affect the strength of an acid.

Short answer

Four factors that affect the strength of an acid are: the stability of the conjugate base, the polarity and solubility of the molecule in water, the atomic radius of the central atom, and the electronegativity of the central atom.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Four Factors

To solve this exercise, the following four factors can be considered: 1. The stability of the conjugate base; 2. The polarity and solubility of the molecule in water; 3. The atomic radius of the central atom; and 4. The electronegativity of the central atom.

Explain each Factor

1. The Strength of an acid is influenced by the stability of the conjugate base. A more stable conjugate base leads to a stronger acid.\newline 2. Solubility in water: Substances that can dissolve in water and donate protons tend to be more acidic.\newline 3. The atomic radius of the central atom: Larger central atoms can accommodate negative charge better, thus the strength of an acid increases with the size of the central atom.\newline 4. The electronegativity of the central atom: Higher electronegativity of the central atom assists in stabilizing any extra negative charge, therefore a highly electronegative central atom leads to a strong acid.