Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-chemistry-course-of-the-year-3-of-the-natural-sciences-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2022/paper-1/1/b/solution

C, the neutral arachno , is the most plausible proton donor among A, B and C. Loss of an open-framework bridging proton produces the experimentally accessible, charge-delocalized conjugate base . In contrast, deprotonating A or B would build a dianion and incurs additional electrostatic cost. The neutral, open hydrogen-rich cluster therefore has a more favourable route to a monoanionic conjugate base. This is a qualitative acidity prediction for the listed species, not a numerical solvent-independent or a claim that all B–H hydrogens are equally acidic.

New to topics? Read the docs here!