Chemistry S & P Block Elements UHS 2023
PMDC Verified Question 23 of 104
Which oxyacid of halogen is strong oxidizing agent?
A
\( \text{HClO}_4 \)
B
\( \text{HClO}_3 \)
C
HClO
D
\( \text{HClO}_2 \)
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option C: HClO
Concept:

The oxidizing power of an oxyacid depends on the stability of its anion. Conversely, its acidic strength depends on how easily it releases a proton.

Solution:

  • As the number of oxygen atoms increases (from \( \text{HClO} \) to \( \text{HClO}_4 \)), the oxidation state of Chlorine increases (+1 to +7), and the resulting anion becomes much more stable due to resonance.
  • Because \( \text{ClO}_4^- \) is highly stable, \( \text{HClO}_4 \) is a very strong acid but a very poor (weak) oxidizing agent.
  • On the other hand, Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is highly unstable. It readily breaks down and forcefully donates its nascent oxygen, making it an incredibly strong oxidizing agent.
  • Trend for Oxidizing Power: HClO > \( \text{HClO}_2 \) > \( \text{HClO}_3 \) > \( \text{HClO}_4 \).


Why other options are incorrect:

  • While \( \text{HClO}_4 \) is the strongest acid, the question specifically asks for the strongest oxidizing agent, which is the exact reverse trend.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

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