Final answer:
The statement should be completed as 'It is much easier to pull electrons from water than hydrogen sulfide, since the sulfur atom in hydrogen sulfide has much lower affinity for its electrons than the oxygen atom in water.'
Step-by-step explanation:
It is much easier to pull electrons from water than hydrogen sulfide, since the sulfur atom in hydrogen sulfide has much lower affinity for its electrons than the oxygen atom in water. The correct answer is a. easier, lower. This is because oxygen is more electronegative than sulfur, which means it has a stronger tendency to attract and hold onto electrons. When comparing sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and sulfurous acid (H₂SO₃), the sulfur in sulfuric acid bonded to two terminal oxygen atoms indicates a greater electronegativity and thus a stronger acid. Similarly, oxygen's high electronegativity compared to hydrogen creates a significant difference in electron affinity between oxygen in water and sulfur in hydrogen sulfide.