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

The acids can be arraged in the following order of depression in freezing point :
acetic acid ` lt ` trichloroacetic acid `lt ` trifluroacetic acid . This can be explained on the basis of degree of ioniztion which depend upon the strenght of the acid.
Trifluoroacetic acid is more acidic than trichloroacetic acid which is more acidic than acetic acid . Therefore , degree of ionization of these will decrease as :
trifluoroacetic acid `gt` trichloroaceti acid `gt` acetic acid Greater the dergree of ionization , greater will be .i. and hence depression of freezing point .