1. Chemistry
2. General Chemistry
3. Bonding
4. 516700

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You have two carbon containing compounds, nitromethane (CH3NO2) and chloromethane (CH3Cl). The eletronegativities of chlorine and nitrogen are very similar. Even though hydrogens bonded to carbon generally are not very acidic (i.e., pKa's are generally in the 50's), when there are electronegative elements, such as fluorine, chlorine, and nitrogens, bonded to the carbon as well, the hydrogens become much more acidic (pKa's generally in the 20's). Knowing this, which compound, chloromethane or nitromethane, would you expect to have the most acidic hydrogen's? Justify your answer.