Chemistry · Phenols: Acidic nature, electrophilic substitution reactions, halogenation, nitration and sulphonation, Reimer Tiemann reaction
Assertion Ethanol is a weaker acid than phenol Reason Sodium ethoxide may be pre
Assertion Ethanol is a weaker acid than phenol Reason Sodium ethoxide may be prepared by the reaction of ethanol with aqueous NaOH
- A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion
- B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for Assertion
- C. Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect
- D. Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect
Step-by-step solution
Assertion: Ethanol (pKa ~16) is a weaker acid than phenol (pKa ~10), so assertion is correct. Reason: Sodium ethoxide cannot be prepared by reacting ethanol with aqueous NaOH because water (pKa ~15.7) is a stronger acid than ethanol, so the equilibrium favors ethanol and hydroxide; sodium ethoxide is typically prepared using sodium metal or stronger bases. Thus reason is incorrect.