KEAM 2010 Physics and Chemistry Paper

The acidity of carboxylic acids depends upon the nature of the alkyl group attached to ─ COOH. The presence of an electron-withdrawing (−I effect) group weakens the O - H bond in the acid and increases the acidity, while the presence of an electron releasing (+I effect) group strengthens the O - H bond of acid and thus, decreases the acidity. Thus, the weakest acid is,
CH3−

CH3 |

C

H−COOH
2 -methylpropanoic acid