The depression in freezing point of water observed for the same amount of acetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, and trifluoroacetic acid increases in the order given above. Explain briefly.

Explanation

Fluorine being more electronegative than cholrine has the highest electron withdrawing inductive effect. Thus, triflouroacetic acid is the strongest trichloroacetic acid is second most and most and acetic acids is the weakest acids due to absence of any electron electron withdrawing group. Thus, `F_(3)C COOH` ionizes to the largest extent while `CH_(3)COOH` ionizes to minimum extent in water . Greater the extent of ionization greater is the depression in freezing point. Hence the order of depression in freezing point will be `CH_(3)COOH lt Cl_(3)C COOH lt F_(3)C COOH`.