Question

Why hydroquinone more acidic than phenol

Answer 1

Answer:

Hydroquinone in its enol form will have a conjugated system between two Oxygen atoms at para position.

In this form as hydroquinone loses H+ to form conjugate base, the O- will resonate between two Oxygen compared to only one Oxygen in Phenolate ion(Conjugate Base of Phenol)

Since, the stability of Conjugate Base of hydroquinone is greater than phenol, due to above stated reason, hydroquinone will lose H+ more readily, and form its CB, thus greater acidic strength.