Question

why are phenols more acidic than alcohols?

Answer 1

Phenol is more reactive and acidic than alcohol (aliphatic) as the phenoxide ion formed in the product is more stable (due to resonance) than alkoxide ion formed in the product side and hence the reaction shifts in forward direction in phenol and is slightly in backward direction in alcohols.

R-OH + NaOH ⇌ R-O-Na + H2O (equilibrium to the left)