TestUstad
Moderate

The relative strength of carboxylic acid, water, ethanol, and phenol has the following order of increasing acid strength:

Correct answer: B. Carboxylic Acid > Phenol > Water > Ethanol

  • A. Carboxylic Acid > Phenol > Ethanol > Water
  • B. Carboxylic Acid > Phenol > Water > Ethanol
  • C. Phenol > Carboxylic Acid > Ethanol > Water
  • D. Water > Ethanol > Phenol > Carboxylic Acid

Explanation

The phenoxide ion obtained after the removal of a proton is stabilized by resonance whereas the ethoxide loan obtained after the removal of a proton is destabilized by the effect of the -C2H5 group. Therefore, phenol is a stronger acid than ethanol. Ethanol is a weaker acid than water because the electron releasing -C2H5 group in ethanol increases the electron density on oxygen hence the polarity of the O-H bond in ethanol decreases which results in decreasing acidic strength. Hence, the order of increasing acid strength is:Carboxylic acid > Phenol > Water > Ethanol

Last updated

About Carboxylic Acids

Carboxylic acids are named and studied through the combined effects of the carbonyl and hydroxyl groups, their preparation, acidity and hydrogen bonding. Reactions include neutralisation, esterification, reduction and conversion into acid chlorides, anhydrides, esters and amides, with emphasis on how these derivatives interconvert.

Practise Carboxylic Acids

550 free Carboxylic Acids MCQs from Chemistry, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Start a free Carboxylic Acids testAll Carboxylic Acids MCQs

Exams that ask Chemistry questions like this

Chemistry is on 12 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

AKU Chemistry45 MCQsDUHS Chemistry45 MCQsETEA MDCAT Chemistry45 MCQsKMU Chemistry45 MCQsMDCAT Chemistry45 MCQsNUMS Chemistry40 MCQsECAT Chemistry30 MCQsETEA Engineering Admission Test Chemistry30 MCQsGIKI Chemistry30 MCQsNED Chemistry30 MCQsNET Chemistry30 MCQsPIEAS Chemistry30 MCQs

Related questions

2-hydroxy propanoic acid is also called _ ?

2CH3,COOH+xCa→ Ca (OCOCH3)2 +H2O. Calculate value of "x".

2CH3COOH+ xCa→ Ca (CH3COO)2 +H2.Calculate value of "x".

A carboxylic acid contains:

A compound has the properties below:it is a liquid at room temperature,it is immiscible with water,it does not decolourise acidified potassium manganate(VII).What could it be?