Question

2 methyl benzoic acid is more acidic than benzoic acid

Answer 1

║⊕ANSWER⊕║

• 2-Methyl Benzoic acid (or o-toluic acid) is stronger because steric hindrance results in the carboxyl group being out of the plane of the aromatic ring.
• Nearly all o-substituted benzoic acids are stronger than the benzoic acid.
• Any o- substituent tends to prevent this coplanarity.
• Thus, resonance is diminished resulting in increased acidic strength.
• The ortho effect is responsible for ortho methyl benzoic acid to be more acidic than para methyl benzoic acid