What is the characteristic of stronger acids concerning oxygen atoms?

Stronger acids tend to have more oxygen atoms in their molecular structure, particularly in the context of oxyacids. This characteristic can be attributed to the electronegative nature of oxygen, which has a significant effect on the acid's ability to donate protons (H⁺ ions).

The presence of multiple oxygen atoms in an acid molecule stabilizes the negative charge that results when the hydrogen ion is lost, facilitating the dissociation of the acid in solution. The more oxygen atoms there are, the greater the resonance stabilization of the conjugate base formed after the acid donates a proton. This stabilization leads to a higher tendency for the acid to release protons, making it a stronger acid.

For instance, comparing sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) with sulfurous acid (H₂SO₃), sulfuric acid has one more oxygen atom, contributing to its status as a stronger acid than sulfurous acid. This trend is consistent across many families of oxyacids. Therefore, the choice highlighting that stronger acids contain more oxygen accurately reflects this important chemical principle.