Question

The carbon-oxygen bond in phenol is slightly stronger than that in methanol. Why?

Answer 1

Hello friend...

This is due to the fact that

(i) in phenol , conjugation of unshared electron pair .

over oxygen with aromatic ring results in partial double bond character in carbon - oxygen bond .

(ii) In phenol oxygen is attached to a Sp2Sp2 hybridized carbon atom while in methanol

It is attached to be Sp3Sp3 hybridized carbon atom . The bond order formed between oxygen and Sp2Sp2hybridized carbon is more stable than that formed between oxygen and Sp3Sp3 hybridized carbon



Hope this helps you...

Answer 2

Hey !

This is due to the fact that

• In phenol, conjugation of unshared electron pair over oxygen with aromatic ring results in partial double bond character in carbon-oxygen bond.
• In phenol, oxygen is attached to sp² hybridised carbon atom while in methanol, it is attached to a sp³ hybridised carbon atom. The bond formed between oxygen and sp³ hybridised carbon.

Hope it helps you !!