H2SO4 is a stronger acid than H2SO3 because: a. It has more oxygens to stengthen

Question

H2SO4 is a stronger acid than H2SO3 because: a. It has more oxygens to stengthen the H-O bond b. it had more oxygens to weaken the H-O bond c. The extra oxygen donates electrons to the H-O bond d. The extra oxygen makes the H-S bind shorter H2SO4 is a stronger acid than H2SO3 because: a. It has more oxygens to stengthen the H-O bond b. it had more oxygens to weaken the H-O bond c. The extra oxygen donates electrons to the H-O bond d. The extra oxygen makes the H-S bind shorter a. It has more oxygens to stengthen the H-O bond b. it had more oxygens to weaken the H-O bond c. The extra oxygen donates electrons to the H-O bond d. The extra oxygen makes the H-S bind shorter

Explanation / Answer

H2SO4 is a stronger acid than H2SO3 because its conjugate base is more
delocalized (has more resonance structures available).

Sulfurous acid, H2SO3, is actually a fictitious acid in the sense that there are no molecules of H2SO3 in solution.

Sulfuric acid, H2SO4, is a strong acid, but only to the extent that the molecule dissociates completely to form H+ and HSO4-. The HSO4- is a weak acid. Strong acids dissociate completely, weak acids do not.

None of your "answers" are correct. The fact that there are two hydrogen atoms, does not make it "stronger". As I said, acid strength has to do with the degree of dissociation. H3PO4 is has more hydrogen atoms, but it is weak acid. Whoever wrote the original question doesn't quite get the concept of acid strength.

The electronegativity difference isn't really in play. The electronegativity difference in HCl is less than the H-O electronegativity, yet HCl is a strong acid.

But the bottom line is that there are NO molecules of H2SO3. A solution of sulfuous acid consists of H+ and HSO3- ions and is formed when SO2 gas dissolves in water.

SO2 + H2O <==> H+ + HSO3-

ANS :-) B

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