Question

Why phenylacetic acid is more acidic than acetic acis ?

Answer 1

Explanation:

case of ethanoate ion negative charge delocalizes within two oxygen atoms only. This makes phenoxide ion less attractive towards cation favoring forward reaction. So, in my view acetic acid should be less acidic than phenol.

Answer 2

Answer:

Benzene is an electron withdrawing group and hence it creates an addition partial positive charge on the Oxygen Atom present in the -OH group through propagation thus increasing its electron withdrawing power. But no such effect exists in acetic acid. ... Hence Benzoic acid is more acidic than Acetic acid.