Phenol is more acidic than ethanol because
Correct answer: D. the phenoxide ion is stabilised by delocalisation of the negative charge into the benzene ring
- A. phenol contains more oxygen
- B. phenol is a solid at room temperature
- C. the hydroxyl group in phenol is attached to an sp3 carbon
- D. the phenoxide ion is stabilised by delocalisation of the negative charge into the benzene ring
Explanation
Losing the hydroxyl hydrogen gives an ion whose negative charge is spread over the aromatic ring rather than concentrated on one oxygen, so the ion is far more stable and its formation is much more favourable. An ethoxide ion has no such delocalisation available. This is why phenol dissolves in sodium hydroxide solution while ethanol does not.
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About Phenols
Phenols contain a hydroxyl group directly bonded to an aromatic ring, making them more acidic than alcohols because the phenoxide ion is resonance-stabilised. Reactions include ionisation with bases, electrophilic substitution, bromination, nitration and oxidation, with attention to the difference between phenols and aliphatic alcohols.
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