Question

Why is acetic acid more acidic than phenol?

Answer 1

They say ethanoic acid is more acidic than phenol since the former can neutralize alkalis like NaOH, however, the latter cannot. But if we look into the structure of ethanoate ion and phenoxide ion, the delocalization of negative charge should bemore in the phenoxide ion as the charge moves inside the benzene ring.

Answer 2

Answer:

Greater resonance stabilization of acetate ion over phenoxide ion