Question

Which of the following statements is wrong
1. phenol is acidic due to polar nature of OH group
2. an electron withdrawing group increase the electron density on oxygen
3. an electron releasing group increase the electron density on oxygen
4. alcohol are less acidic than phenol ​

Answer 1

"An electron withdrawing group increase the electron density on oxygen" is an incorrect statement.

• The electron withdrawing groups instead decrease the electron density as they withdraw electrons from oxygen because it is more electronegative.
• All the other statements are true.
• Alcohols are less acidic than phenol because phenols are the phenoxide ions in phenol is stabilized due to resonance.
• Since option 2 and 3 were almost two opposite things therefore it was simple to make out that which one was the incorrect option.