Which of the following factors increase the acidic strength of a carboxylic acid ()? — GOC and Organic Chemistry Basics Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The conjugate base (carboxylate anion) is stabilized by withdrawing electron density. The presence of $-I$ groups achieves this. Because the inductive effect is cumulative and distance-dependent, increasing the number of $-I$ groups increases acidity, while moving them further away decreases their stabilizing pull.