Question

Arrange hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid and ammonium chloride in the descending order of their atomicity.

• A. Sulphuric acid > ammonium chloride > hydrochloric acid
• B. Hydrochloric acid > sulphuric acid > ammonium chloride
• C. Hydrochloric acid > ammonium chloride > sulphuric acid
• D. Ammonium chloride > hydrochloric acid > sulphuric acid

Answer 1

The correct option is A Sulphuric acid > ammonium chloride > hydrochloric acid

The number of atoms present in a molecule is called its atomicity. The table below lists the compounds along with their atomicity.
$$\begin{array}{ccc}\text{Compounds}& \text{Constituent atoms}& \text{Atomicity}\\ \text{Hydrochloric acid}& \text{1 H, 1 Cl}& \text{2}\\ \text{Sulphuric acid}& \text{2 H, 1 S, 4 O}& \text{7}\\ \text{Ammonium chloride}& \text{1 N, 4 H, 1 Cl}& \text{6}\end{array}$$
Hence, the descending order of atomicity is:
Sulphuric acid > ammonium chloride > hydrochloric acid.