Which of the following is more acidic in nature?
Correct answer: B. Phenol
- A. Benzene
- B. Phenol
- C. Cresol
- D. Aniline
Explanation
Phenol is more acidic than benzene, cresol and aniline because its conjugate base, phenoxide, is resonance-stabilised. The methyl group in cresol slightly increases electron density and reduces acidity, while aniline is a weak base rather than a stronger acid. The likely wrong choice is cresol, since it also contains an -OH group but the methyl group makes it less acidic than phenol.
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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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