Question

Assertion (A): Acetic acid but not formic acid, can be halogenated in the presence of red P and Cl₂.

Reason (R): Acetic acid is a weaker acid than formic acid.

Options

• Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).

• Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).

• Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.

• Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Answer 1

Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).

Explanation:

Acetic acid is halogenated in the presence of red P and Cl₂, but formic acid is not because it lacks an α-hydrogen atom. In comparison to formic acid, proton loss becomes more difficult. As a result, acetic acid is a weaker acid than formic acid.