Identify the correct order of acidic strength for the following oxoacids of chlorine: $\text{HClO}$, ${\text{HClO}}_2$, ${\text{HClO}}_3$, ${\text{HClO}}_4$.

Solution

1. The acidic strength of oxoacids depends on the stability of the conjugate base anion.
2. As the number of oxygen atoms increases, the negative charge on the conjugate base is delocalized over more oxygen atoms.
3. The stability order of conjugate bases is ${\text{ClO}}^{-}<{\text{ClO}}_2^{-}<{\text{ClO}}_3^{-}<{\text{ClO}}_4^{-}$.
4. Hence the answer is (A).