Question

Which of the following is an application of inductive effect?

• A. Stability of carbocations
• B. Bond length
• C. Dipole moment
• D. Strength of carboxylic acids

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B), (C), (D)

Strength of carboxylic acids

The polarization of a σ bond due to electron-withdrawing or electron-donating effect of adjacent groups or atoms is called inductive effect.
The inductive effect arises due to the electronegativity difference between two atoms forming a sigma bond.
Similarly, a carbocation will be destabilized by an electron-donating group.
Since the inductive effect leads to an ionic character in the bond, the increase in –I effect usually decreases the bond length. Thus, the acidity of the carboxylic acid is due to the inductive effect and resonance stabilisation of the carboxylate anion.