Question

Between $p$ -nitrophenol and salicylaldehyde, solubility in base is

• A. almost nil for both cases
• B. higher for $p$ -nitrophenol
• C. higher for salicylaldehyde
• D. equal in nature.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

$p$ -Nitrophenol is stronger acid than salicylaldehyde due to strong electron withdrawing inductive effect of $-N{O}_2$ group. Being a stronger acid, $p$ -nitrophenol is more soluble in base.