Final answer:
HClO₃ is the stronger acid compared to HBrO₃ because Cl is more electronegative than Br, which increases the acid's strength by making the H+ ion more easily releasable (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked which is the stronger acid: HClO₃ or HBrO₃? The answer is HClO₃, because chlorine (Cl) is more electronegative than bromine (Br). In a series of oxyacids with similar formulas, the acid strength increases as the electronegativity of the central atom increases. This higher electronegativity allows chlorine to attract the electrons of the oxygen atoms more strongly, which in turn draws electrons away from the O-H bond, making the hydrogen ion (H+) more easily released. The easier release of H+ ions is what makes an acid strong.
The stronger acid between HClO₃ and HBrO₃ is HClO₃ because chlorine is more electronegative than bromine. In general, for oxyacids with similar formulas, the acid strength increases as the electronegativity of the central atom increases. Since chlorine has a higher electronegativity than bromine, HClO₃ is the stronger acid.