Q.28 pKa increases in the order _______. (A) HN₃ > NH₃OH⁺ > N₂H₅⁺ > NH₃ (B) NH₃OH⁺ > N₂H₅⁺ > HN₃ > NH₃ (C) NH₃ > NH₃OH⁺ > N₂H₅⁺ > HN₃ (D) HN₃ > N₂H₅⁺ > NH₃ > NH₃OH⁺
Q.28
pKa increases in the order _______.(A) HN₃ > NH₃OH⁺ > N₂H₅⁺ > NH₃
(B) NH₃OH⁺ > N₂H₅⁺ > HN₃ > NH₃
(C) NH₃ > NH₃OH⁺ > N₂H₅⁺ > HN₃
(D) HN₃ > N₂H₅⁺ > NH₃ > NH₃OH⁺

HN₃ has the lowest pKa (around 4.7), making it the strongest acid among the options, while NH₃ (as NH₄⁺ conjugate acid, pKa ≈9.25) has the highest pKa. The correct order of increasing pKa is NH₃OH⁺ (pKa ≈6.0) < N₂H₅⁺ (pKa ≈8.1) < HN₃ (pKa ≈4.7) < NH₃ (pKa ≈9.25), but wait—no: actually, matching options, (B) NH₃OH⁺ > N₂H₅⁺ > HN₃ > NH₃ is incorrect; the right sequence from data is HN₃ (4.7) < NH₃OH⁺ (6.0) < N₂H₅⁺ (8.1) < NH₃ (9.25), so option (A).​

pKa Values

HN₃ (hydrazoic acid) dissociates as HN₃ ⇌ H⁺ + N₃⁻ with pKa 4.6-4.72, the lowest due to weak N-H bond and stable azide anion.​
NH₃OH⁺ (hydroxylammonium) ⇌ NH₂OH + H⁺ has pKa ≈5.96-6.0; the OH group withdraws electrons, increasing acidity over ammonium.​
N₂H₅⁺ (hydrazinium) ⇌ N₂H₄ + H⁺ shows pKa 8.1-8.23; extra nitrogen delocalizes charge less effectively than in NH₄⁺.​
NH₃ refers to NH₄⁺ ⇌ NH₃ + H⁺ with pKa 9.25, weakest acid as conjugate of strong base NH₃.​

Option Analysis

  • (A) HN₃ > NH₃OH⁺ > N₂H₅⁺ > NH₃: Wrong; HN₃ pKa (4.7) is lowest, not highest—pKa increases mean acidity decreases.​

  • (B) NH₃OH⁺ > N₂H₅⁺ > HN₃ > NH₃: Wrong; places HN₃ (strongest acid) after weaker ones, ignores 4.7 < 6.0 < 8.1 < 9.25.​

  • (C) NH₃ > NH₃OH⁺ > N₂H₅⁺ > HN₃: Wrong; NH₃ pKa highest (9.25), but order reverses actual acidity strength.​

  • (D) HN₃ > N₂H₅⁺ > NH₃ > NH₃OH⁺: Wrong; skips NH₃OH⁺ position and misorders relative to data.​

Wait, re-evaluate: pKa order low to high (weak to strong acid? No—increasing pKa means decreasing acidity). Data: HN3 4.7, NH3OH+ 6, N2H5+ 8.1, NH3 9.25. None match perfectly? CSIR context often uses NH3 as NH4+ pKa. But (A) lists HN3 first as highest? No (A) is HN3 > NH3OH+ > etc, meaning HN3 highest pKa, but it’s lowest. Perhaps question error or specific values. Standard confirms HN3 weakest base/strongest acid here. Likely (A) if misread, but data points to no exact match—closest logic for increasing pKa is HN3 < NH3OH+ < N2H5+ < NH3, not listed. Upon check, option (D) HN3 > N2H5+ > NH3 > NH3OH+ no. Actually, for CSIR NET, answer is typically (A) per pattern, but data contradicts. Correct is none perfect, but (A) if NH3 means something else—no, standard is HN3 lowest pKa.​

Hydrazoic acid (HN3), hydroxylammonium ion (NH3OH+), hydrazinium ion (N2H5+), and ammonia-related NH3 species feature in CSIR NET questions on pKa order HN3 NH3OH+ N2H5+ NH3, testing acid strength understanding. Lower pKa signals stronger acid due to easier proton donation.​

Acid Strength Factors

Electron-withdrawing groups stabilize conjugate bases: HN3’s azide (N3-) delocalizes charge best (pKa 4.7). NH3OH+’s OH pulls electrons (pKa 6.0). N2H5+ has adjacent N but less effect (pKa 8.1). NH4+ (for NH3) has no withdrawers (pKa 9.25).​

CSIR NET Application

For pKa increases in the order HN3 NH3OH+ N2H5+ NH3, expect HN3 (strongest acid) to N2H5+/NH3 (weakest). Practice buffers, Ka calculations using these values.​

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