Question

Statement 1 : The pKa of acetic acid is lower than that of phenol.
Statement 2 : Phenoxide ion is more resonance stabilized.

• A. If both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true and the statement 2 is the correct explanation of the statement 1 .
• B. If both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true but statement 2 is not the correct explanation of the statement 1 .
• C. If Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false.
• D. If Statement 1 is false but Statement 2 is true.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Lower the value of $pKa$, more acidic will be the compound. Acetic acid is more acidic than phenol. This indicates that carboxylate ion should be more stable than the phenoxide ion and it is clear that carboxylate ion has more equivalent resonating structures than the phenoxide ion.