Answer:
CH3CH2CH2COOH<CH2(F)CH2CH2COOH<CH3CH(F)CH2COOH<CH2(F)CH(F)CH2COOH
Explanation:
We know that the presence of highly electronegative elements in carboxylic acid molecules lead to -I inductive effect. This implies that electrons are withdrawn along the chain towards the electronegative element. As electrons are withdrawn towards the electronegative element, the electron cloud of the carbonyl- hydrogen bond in the acid weakens and the hydrogen can now be easily lost as a proton, that is , the molecule becomes more acidic.
The -I inductive effect increases with increase in the number of electronegative elements present in the molecule and the proximity of the electronegative element to the carbonyl group. The closer the electronegative element is to the carbonyl group, the greater the acidity of the molecule since the -I inductive effect dies out with increasing distance from the carbonyl group. Also, the more the number of electronegative elements in the molecule, the greater the - I inductive effect and the greater the acidity of the molecule, hence the answer.
