Question

When ethyl acetate was hydrolysed in presence of 0.1 N HCl, the rate constant was found to be $5.40\times {10}^{-5}se{c}^{-1}$. But when 0.1 N $H_{2}S{O}_4$ was used for hydrolysis, the rate constant was found to be $6.25\times {10}^{-5}se{c}^{-1}$. Thus, it may be concluded that:

• A. $H_{2}S{O}_4$ is stronger than HCl
• B. $H_{2}S{O}_4$ is weaker than HCl
• C. $H_{2}S{O}_4$ and HCl both have the same strength
• D. the data are not sufficient to compare the strength of $H_{2}S{O}_4$ and HCl

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$H_{2}S{O}_4$ is stronger than HCl

Option (A) is correct. $H_{2}S{O}_4$ is stronger than $HCl$.
Relative strength in favour of $H_{2}S{O}_4$
$=\frac{\text{rate constant of reaction catalysted by}{H}_{2}S{O}_4}{\text{rate constant of reaction catalysted by HCl}}$.