1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Chemistry
  4. Assertion (A) Alcohols and water are weaker acids than phenols. Reason (R) The delocalisation of negative charge makes the phenoxide ion more stable and favour the ionisation of phenol.

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Q. Assertion (A) Alcohols and water are weaker acids than phenols.
Reason (R) The delocalisation of negative charge makes the phenoxide ion more stable and favour the ionisation of phenol.

Alcohols Phenols and Ethers

Solution:

The reaction of phenol with aqueous $NaOH$ indicates that phenols are stronger acids than alcohols and water.
The ionisation of an alcohol and a phenol takes place as follows
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In alkoxide ion, the negative charge is localised on oxygen while in phenoxide ion, the charge is delocalised. The delocalisation of negative charge (structure I-V) makes phenoxide ion more stable and favours the ionisation of phenol.
image