The relative acidic strengths of benzoic acid, o-toluic acid, and p-toluic acid in decreasing order can be given as:
A
p-toluic acid > o-toluic acid > benzoic acid
No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
B
o-toluic acid > p-toluic acid > benzoic acid
No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
C
p-toluic acid > benzoic acid > o-toluic acid
No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
D
o-toluic acid > benzoic acid > p-toluic acid
Right on! Give the BNAT exam to get a 100% scholarship for BYJUS courses
Open in App
Solution
The correct option is D o-toluic acid > benzoic acid > p-toluic acid The decreasing order of the relative acidic strengths of benzoic acid, o-toluic acid and p-toluic acid is:
o-toluic acid > benzoic acid > p-toluic acid. In a case of p-toluic acid, a methyl group is an electron releasing substituent and intensifies the negative charge of the carboxylate anion and destabilizes it and decreases the acidity. Hence, p-toluic acid is less acidic than benzoic acid. The ortho-isomer of every substituted benzoic acid is the strongest acid due to ortho effect.