Chemistry · Phenols: Acidic nature, electrophilic substitution reactions, halogenation, nitration and sulphonation, Reimer Tiemann reaction

Phenol is less acidic than:

Phenol is less acidic than:

  • A. \( o \) -nitrophenol
  • B. \( p \) -methoxy phenol
  • C. 2 -methylpropano
  • D. 2, 2-dimethyl pentanol

Step-by-step solution

Phenol is less acidic than o-nitrophenol because the nitro group is electron-withdrawing, stabilizing the phenoxide ion through resonance and inductive effects, thus increasing acidity. In contrast, p-methoxyphenol has an electron-donating group that decreases acidity, and alcohols (2-methylpropanol and 2,2-dimethylpentanol) are less acidic than phenol due to lack of resonance stabilization of the conjugate base.
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