The correct order of increasing acidic nature is?

  1. H3O+<NH+4<HF<OH−<H2O

  2. NH+4<HF<H3O+<H2O<OH−

  3. OH−<H2O<NH+4<HF<H3O+

  4. H3O+<HF<H2O<NH+4<OH−

1 Answer
Oliver S.
Apr 8, 2018

3.

Explanation:

Acidic nature is determined by a low pH.
pH is given by:
pH=−log[H3O+]
where [H3O+] is the concentration of oxonium ions- so the most acidic species in this bunch must be the oxonium ion-H3O+

Conversely, an alkaline character is given by a high pH, which implies a high concentration of OH− ions- so this must be what has the last acidic character of the listed ions and molecules.

Hence the only appropriate one seems to be option 3.

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