Chemistry - CHEMICAL BONDING Question with Solution | TestHub

CHCl₃ is more acidic than CHF₃ because the conjugate base CCl₃⁻ is highly stabilized by pπ-dπ back-bonding. Chlorine has vacant 3d-orbitals that can accept the negative charge (lone pair) from the carbon atom. In contrast, Fluorine in CF₃⁻ lacks vacant d-orbitals, so it can only stabilize the negative charge via its inductive effect ($-I$). The back-bonding in CCl₃⁻ provides much stronger stabilization than the inductive effect in CF₃⁻, making CHCl₃ release its proton more easily.