Why is Benzoic acid is a weaker acid tha...

Why is Benzoic acid is a weaker acid than formic acid?

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Benzoic acid is a weaker acid than formic acid due to following reasons:
(i) -I effect of phenyl group tends to increase the acidic strength by dispersing the negative change on benzoate ion.
(ii) Mensomeric effect (-M effect) of -COOH group tends to destablising the benzoate ion by increasing the negative change on oxygen atoms.
As a result acidic strength decreases.

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of the presence of hydrogen bonds in HF

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less

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none

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-M effect

-I effect

+ M effect

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