Which of the following is strongest acid?

Options

A. HOCl
B. `HClO_(2)`
C. `HClO_(3)`
D. `HClO_(4)`

Explanation

To determine which of the given acids is the strongest, we can analyze the acids based on their structures and the number of oxygen atoms they contain. The strength of oxoacids generally increases with the number of oxygen atoms attached to the central atom. This is because the presence of more oxygen atoms increases the electronegativity of the central atom, which in turn increases the ability of the acid to donate protons (H⁺ ions).

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Acids**: Let's assume the options given are:
- A) HOCl (Hypochlorous acid)
- B) HClO2 (Chlorous acid)
- C) HClO3 (Chloric acid)
- D) HClO4 (Perchloric acid)

2. **Analyze the Number of Oxygen Atoms**:
- HOCl has 1 oxygen atom.
- HClO2 has 2 oxygen atoms.
- HClO3 has 3 oxygen atoms.
- HClO4 has 4 oxygen atoms.

3. **Determine the Trend in Acidity**:
- As the number of oxygen atoms increases, the acidity of the oxoacid increases. This is because more oxygen atoms create a stronger pull on the hydrogen atom, making it easier for the acid to donate a proton.
- Therefore, the order of acidity based on the number of oxygen atoms is:
- HOCl < HClO2 < HClO3 < HClO4

4. **Identify the Strongest Acid**:
- From the analysis, HClO4 (Perchloric acid) has the highest number of oxygen atoms and is therefore the strongest acid among the options provided.

5. **Conclusion**:
- The strongest acid among the given options is **HClO4**.