Question

Explain why phenol is more acidic as compared to alcohol and water arrange them in increasing order of acidity

Answer 1

Explanation:

Phenol is more acidic as compared to alcohol and water because it is very tough to remove H+ ion form alcohol. Phenol can lose H+ ion easily as compared to alcohol.

Increasing order of Acidity :-

• Phenol > Alcohol > water

Answer 2

Acidic nature of phenol →

Any substance which gives hydrogen ions when dissolved in water is known as acid. When phenol is dissolved in water, undergoes dissociation to give hydrogen ion and phenoxide ion. Phenoxide ion is very well stabilized by resonance. Hence phenol is acidic.

⇒ Phenol is more acidic than alcohols due

to stabilization of phenoxide ion through resonance. Presence of the electron withdrawing group increases the acidity of phenol by stabilizing phenoxide ion while the presence of the electron releasing group decreases the acidity of phenol by destabilizing phenoxide ion.

Hence Phenol is more acidic than Alcohols.