Question

Phenol is more acidic than alcohol because

• A. phenol is more soluble in polar solvents
• B. alcohol does not lose hydrogen atom
• C. phenoxide ion is stabilized by resonance
• D. phenoxide ion do not exhibit resonance

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Here is resonance. Due to resonance the phenoxide ion is more stable whereas resonance is not possible in alkoxide ion.

$R-O^{\ominus }$ no resonance is possible,
Since, phenoxide ion is better stabilised by resonance, the phenol has more tendency to form phenoxide ion by releasing $H^{+}$ion. So, phenols are acidic in nature.