Based on patterns in the periodic table, which list shows the acids in order from strongest to weakest?

Question

(1 point)
Responses

HCl, PH3, H2S
HCl, PH 3 , H 2 S

HCl, H2S, PH3
HCl, H 2 S, PH 3

PH3, H2S, HCl
PH 3 , H 2 S, HCl

H2S, PH3, HCl

Answer 1

The strength of an acid can generally be assessed based on its ability to donate a proton (H⁺) and the stability of the resulting conjugate base. In this case:

• HCl (hydrochloric acid) is a strong acid and dissociates completely in water, making it the strongest acid in this list.
• H2S (hydrosulfuric acid) is a weak acid, but it is stronger than PH3 (phosphine), which is not considered an acid in the same way and is even weaker in terms of acidity.

Therefore, the correct order from strongest to weakest acid is:

HCl, H2S, PH3

So the correct response is:

HCl, H2S, PH3