Question

Giving suitable explanation, arrange hypohalous acids of chlorine, bromine and iodine in the increasing order of their acid strength.

Answer 1

The hypohalous acids are HClO, HBrO, and HIO for chlorine, bromine, and iodine, respectively. The acid strength depends on the electronegativity of the halogen atom; higher electronegativity means stronger acid. Chlorine is more electronegative than bromine, and bromine is more electronegative than iodine. Thus, the acid strength order is HIO < HBrO < HClO.

Explanation:

In these acids, the bond polarity between the halogen and oxygen affects the ease of releasing H⁺ ions. More electronegative halogen makes the \[\ce{O - H}\] bond more polar and weaker, making it easier to lose a proton (thus a stronger acid). So, hypochlorous acid (HClO) is strongest, followed by hypobromous acid (HBrO) and then hypoiodous acid (HIO), which is weakest.