Final answer:
The correct order of acidity from strongest to weakest is HCl, H2SO4, HF, and CH3COOH. HCl and H2SO4 are strong acids that completely dissociate in water, while HF is a weak acid with a higher dissociation constant than acetic acid (CH3COOH), which is also a weak acid.
Step-by-step explanation:
To rank the acids from strongest to weakest, we can refer to the general knowledge of acid strength and compare their acid dissociation constants (Ka). Strong acids completely dissociate in water, while weak acids do not. Based on this information, the correct order from strongest to weakest acid is:
HCl (hydrochloric acid)
H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid)
HF (hydrofluoric acid)
CH₃COOH (acetic acid)
HCl and H₂SO₄ are considered to be strong acids, which means they completely dissociate in water. Acetic acid (CH₃COOH) is a weak acid, which only partially dissociates in water. HF is somewhat peculiar; although it is a weak acid, it is stronger than acetic acid because of its higher electronegativity and bond strength, which influences its acid dissociation constant.