Question

explain why phenol is acidic but ethanol is neutral?

Answer 1

Phenol is a very weak acid and the position of equilibrium lies well to the left. Phenol can lose a hydrogen ion because the phenoxide ion formed is stabilised to some extent. The negative charge on the oxygen atom is delocalised around the ring.

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Answer 2

Explanation:

The chemical formula of phenol is $C_{6}H_{5}OH$. When a phenol molecule will lose hydrogen ion then it will result in the formation of a phenoxide ion, that is, $C_{6}H_{5}O^{-}$.

This phenoxide ion is resonance stabilized and hence, it is acidic in nature.

On the other hand, when a ethanol molecule will lose its hydrogen ion then it will form a $C_{2}H_{5}O^{-}$ ion. This is not resonance stabilize, nor acidic or basic in nature.

Hence, ethanol will act as a neutral molecule.