Which of the following is the correct formula for chloric acid?

• A. HCl
• B. HClO_4
• C. HClO_2
• D. HClO_3

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that chloric acid is an oxyacid of chlorine, meaning it contains hydrogen, oxygen, and chlorine atoms.
2. Recall that the naming of oxyacids depends on the number of oxygen atoms attached to the central atom (chlorine in this case).
3. Know the common oxyacids of chlorine and their formulas: hypochlorous acid (HClO), chlorous acid (HClO_2), chloric acid (HClO_3), and perchloric acid (HClO_4).
4. Identify that chloric acid corresponds to the formula with three oxygen atoms bonded to chlorine, which is HClO_3.
5. Confirm that among the given options, HClO_3 is the correct formula for chloric acid.