Question

Assertion (A) Carboxylic acids are more acidic than phenols.
Reason (R) The carboxylate ion is less stabilised than phenoxide ion.

• A. Both $A$ and $R$ are correct; and $R$ is the correct explanation of $A$.
• B. Both $A$ and $R$ are correct; but $R$ is not the correct explanation of $A$.
• C. $A$ is correct ; but $R$ is incorrect.
• D. $R$ is correct ; but $A$ is incorrect.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Carboxylate ion is more stable than phenoxide ion due to two equivalent resonating structures in which negative charge is at the O-atom. In phenoxide ion, negative charge is at the less-electronegative carbon atom.
Therefore, corresponding acid of the carboxylate ion, i.e. carboxylic acid is more acidic than phenol.