Which is the strongest acid in the following ?

Options

A. `HCIO_(3)`
B. `HCIO_(4)`
C. `H_(2)SO_(3)`
D. `H_(2)SO_(4)`

Answer

B

Explanation

All are oxoacids. In oxoacids, the acidic strength is usually decided by the oxidation state of the central atom. Higher the oxidation state, greater the acidic strength:

`H-O-overset(O)overset(||)underset(+4)(S)-O-H` , `H-O-overset(O)overset(||)underset(O)underset(||)(S)overset(+6)(-)O-H`
Thus, the correct order of acidic strength is
`{:(+7,,+6,,+5,,+4),(,gt,,gt,,gt,),(HClO_(4),,H_(2)SO_(4),,HClO_(3),,H_(2)SO_(3)):}`