Identify the alcohol or phenol having a stronger acidic nature from th...
- Phenol (C₆H₅OH) is more acidic than typical alcohols.
- This is due to the resonance stabilization of the phenoxide ion formed when phenol loses a hydrogen ion (H⁺).
- The negative charge on the oxygen atom in phenoxide ion is delocalized over the aromatic ring, increasing stability and acidity.
- In contrast, alcohols like ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH) do not have such resonance stabilization, making them less acidic.
- Therefore, phenol is the strongest acid among the given options.
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Identify the alcohol or phenol having a stronger acidic nature from th...
Alcohol and Phenol Acidity
Alcohols and phenols both contain a hydroxyl (-OH) group, which can act as an acid by donating a proton (H+). However, the acidity of alcohols and phenols varies depending on the structure of the molecule.
Factors Affecting Acidity
The acidity of alcohols and phenols depends on the following factors:
- Size of the alkyl group attached to the hydroxyl group
- Resonance stabilization of the conjugate base
- Inductive effect of adjacent functional groups
Strongest Acidic Nature
Out of the given options, C6H5OH (phenol) has the strongest acidic nature. This is because of the following reasons:
- Size of the alkyl group attached to the hydroxyl group: Phenol has a smaller alkyl group (C6H5) attached to the hydroxyl group than the other options, which have larger alkyl groups (CH3CH2, CH3CHOHCH2, and CH3CH2CH2CH2).
- Resonance stabilization of the conjugate base: Phenol's conjugate base (C6H5O-) is stabilized by resonance delocalization of the negative charge on the benzene ring. This makes the conjugate base more stable and the acid more acidic.
- Inductive effect of adjacent functional groups: The adjacent benzene ring in phenol also has an electron-withdrawing effect on the hydroxyl group, making it more acidic.
Therefore, phenol has the strongest acidic nature out of the given options.
Identify the alcohol or phenol having a stronger acidic nature from th...
When phenol lose H+ ion (which shows acidity) we are left with a negative charge on oxygen atom on benzene know as phenoxide ion. It is resonance stabilised hence the rxn move forward. In other options there are only alKanes which dont show resonance and also hav a +I effect of alkyl group which destabilize the alkoxide ion.so rxn does not move forward & only phenol looses H+ ion