Because in phenol there is benzene ring jo -I effect lga rhi h to acidic nature increases nd ethyl alchol m ethyl h jo +I effect lga rha h to acidic nature Decrease

Difference in Acidic Behavior between Phenol and Ethyl Alcohol:

Phenol and ethyl alcohol are both organic compounds containing hydroxyl (-OH) functional groups. However, phenol is classified as an acidic compound, while ethyl alcohol is considered neutral. This difference in acidity can be explained by the following factors:

1. Structure:
- Phenol: Phenol consists of a benzene ring (-C6H5) with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to it. The presence of the benzene ring gives phenol its acidic properties.
- Ethyl Alcohol: Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol, is a simple alcohol molecule with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a saturated carbon atom. It does not contain any acidic functional groups.

2. Stability of Conjugate Base:
- Phenol: When phenol loses a hydrogen ion (H+), it forms a phenoxide ion (-C6H5O-). This phenoxide ion is stabilized through resonance, which leads to the delocalization of the negative charge over the benzene ring. This resonance stabilization increases the stability of the phenoxide ion, making it more favorable for phenol to donate a proton, resulting in its acidic behavior.
- Ethyl Alcohol: Upon deprotonation, ethyl alcohol forms an ethoxide ion (-CH2CH3O-). However, this ion lacks the resonance stabilization present in phenol's phenoxide ion. Hence, the stability of the ethoxide ion is relatively lower compared to the phenoxide ion, leading to a weaker acidic behavior in ethyl alcohol.

3. Strength of O-H Bond:
- Phenol: The O-H bond in phenol is weaker compared to the O-H bond in ethyl alcohol. This is due to the electron-withdrawing effect of the benzene ring, which decreases the electron density around the oxygen atom in phenol. Weaker O-H bonds are easier to break, facilitating the release of a proton and contributing to the acidic nature of phenol.
- Ethyl Alcohol: The O-H bond in ethyl alcohol is stronger due to the absence of electron-withdrawing groups. As a result, it requires more energy to break this bond and release a proton, making ethyl alcohol less acidic compared to phenol.

Conclusion:
The difference in the acidic behavior between phenol and ethyl alcohol can be attributed to the structural differences, stability of the conjugate base, and strength of the O-H bond. Phenol's benzene ring and resonance stabilization of its phenoxide ion make it more acidic, while ethyl alcohol lacks these factors, resulting in its neutral nature.