Acidic strength in organic compounds is determined by how easily a compound can donate a proton. The key factor to look at is the stability of the conjugate base that forms after this donation. For instance, in functional groups like -COOH (carboxylic acids), the resulting conjugate base is quite stable because of resonance. This makes carboxylic acids more acidic. On the other hand, -OH groups in alcohols form less stable conjugate bases, meaning they are less acidic.
To compare the acidity between two compounds:
- Identify the acidic functional groups.
- Evaluate the stability of the conjugate base.
- Consider other structural factors such as electronegativity and resonance.
Choose the compound with the more stable conjugate base as having greater acidic strength.