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This requires a fair amount of background theoretical knowledge to explain.
Basically, as I'm sure you are aware, ethanol is CH3-CH2-OH. The acidity of a molecule depends on how easily it loses its most acidic proton, which in this case is the hydrogen atom in the alcohol group.
Phenol is C6H6-OH where C6H6 is a benzene ring. Once again, the most acidic proton is the hydrogen atom in the alcohol group.
A molecule is more acidic if the anion formed upon deprotonation (i.e: when it loses its proton, H+), can be stabilised. The benzene ring is much more electron withdrawing than the alkane chain in ethanol (due to delocalisation of the Pi system) which means the resulting negative charge in the anion of phenol can be stabilised much more easily than in ethanol, hence why it has a lower pKa and is more acidic than ethanol.
I hope this helps and if there is anything you don't understand or wish to be explained further, just ask.
What else can I help you with?
Why phenol is more acidic than ethanol?
phenol is more acidic because of the benzene ring present in the molecule,when you lose the H form the OH group it is possible to delocalise the charge around the aromatic system due to the pi electron cloud,straight chain alcohols cannot do this so it is less favourable to deprotonate them hance it is easier to deprotonate a phenol,hence we say it is more acidic
Is phenol easier or more difficult to substitute with bromine than benzene?
The substitution reactions of phenol are easier than benzene, phenol directly reacts with bromine and gives tribromo phenol while benzene requires FeCl3 as a catalyst and gives mono bromo phenol.
Why does ethanol burn differently than ethanol and water mixed?
Ethanol burns differently than a mix of ethanol and water because water has a higher boiling point compared to ethanol. Water will absorb heat during combustion, which can lower the overall temperature and affect the efficiency of the burning process. This can lead to a slower and less complete combustion compared to pure ethanol.
Is hexane more dense than ethanol?
No, hexane is less dense than ethanol- hexane has a density of 0.6548g/mL and ethanol has a density of 0.789g/mL, so hexane will float on top of ethanol.
Will ice sink or float in ethanol?
Ice will float in ethanol because ice is less dense than ethanol. The density of ice is about 0.92 g/cm3, while the density of ethanol is about 0.79 g/cm3. This difference in density causes ice to float in ethanol.
Which is stronger acid ethanol or phenol?
Phenol is stronger acid than ethanol. Phenol's acidic strength stems from the presence of the -OH group attached directly to the aromatic ring, which allows it to readily donate a proton. Ethanol, in contrast, has a less acidic -OH group due to its aliphatic structure.
Why phenol is more acidic than ethanol?
phenol is more acidic because of the benzene ring present in the molecule,when you lose the H form the OH group it is possible to delocalise the charge around the aromatic system due to the pi electron cloud,straight chain alcohols cannot do this so it is less favourable to deprotonate them hance it is easier to deprotonate a phenol,hence we say it is more acidic
Is 1-hexanol more acidic or less acidic than phenol?
Phenol is more acidic than 1-hexanol because the hydroxyl group in phenol is directly attached to the aromatic ring, which stabilizes the resulting phenoxide ion through resonance. In contrast, the hydroxyl group in 1-hexanol is attached to an aliphatic chain, making it less acidic.
Suggest a chemical test(s) to distinguish ethanol and phenol. Include the reagents reaction conditions and observations. And the equation?
Phenol solution, or phenol directly from the manufacturer?If the phenol is in the form it comes in from the factory, no chemical test is necessary. Phenol is a white crystalline solid.If it's dissolved in water, the easiest test is pH. Phenol solution is more acidic than ethanol. So...whatever you use for a pH test will do ya.
Is water more acidic than phenol?
No, water is neutral with a pH of 7. Phenol is slightly acidic with a pH range between 5 and 6.
Compare the reactivity between ethanol and phenol?
Reactivity in general between the two is quite difficult to compare since the aromatic ring of phenol is able to undergo reactions which ethanol isn't and vice versa. However, there are a number of reactions which can be compared. The first of these is deprotonation, affecting the acidity of the alcohol. Since the subsequent negative charge on the oxygen is stabilised over the benzene ring, phenol is significantly more acid than ethanol (about 100,000 times). Nuclephilic substitution with the alcohol as the nucleophile is likely to be slightly quicker using phenol due to this easier deprotonation creating a stronger nucleophile than the ethanol. Another common reaction is nucleophilic substitution with the alcohol as the electrophile, which occurs fairly easily to ethanol in the presence of an acid. Phenol however, due to its ring, cannot easily react in the same way.
Why phenol is stronger acid than ethanol?
Phenol is a stronger acid than ethanol because the phenoxide ion formed after losing a proton is stabilized by resonance, making it more stable. In contrast, ethanol forms a less stable ethoxide ion due to the lack of resonance stabilization. This difference in stability influences the ease with which the acids donate a proton.
Which is more acidic p-chloro phenol or p-fluoro phenol?
p-chloro phenol is more acidic thisi is because in p-fluoro phenol as fluorine and carbon have identical 2p orbitals, the overlapping is perfect Hence the +r effect and -I effect cancels thus making it less acidic
Which is more acidic phenol or para-chloro phenol?
Phenol. Anisole doesn't have any acidic protons.
Which is more polar phenol or ethanol?
Yes , phenol is more polar than toluene. because ph-OH has more dipole moment than Ph-CH3
Why is acetic acid more acidic than phenol?
The two resonating structure of the anion formed after acetic acid gives up a proton are equivalent, and the negative charge rests on oxygen which is an electronegative element. But in case of phenoxide ion, the resonating structures are not equivalent, and negative charge rests on carbon which is an electropositive atom.
Why are phenols acidic in nature?
Phenol can act as an acid due to it's stability as phenoxide ion. By releasing H+ ion it will form stable C6H5O- ion. The groups having +I, -I , +M , -M efffects present on phenol will effect acidic nature of phenol. As +I or +M groups which are present at ortho and at para psitions will decrease the acidic character of phenol. If they are at meta position effect is less than at para or ortho positions.Similar to this -I or -M gorups are substituted on phenol they will increase the acidic nature. so, we can say that as the stability of phenoxide ion increases acidic nature of phenol also increases.Phenol can act as an acid due to it's stability as phenoxide ion. By releasing H+ ion it will form stable C6H5O- ion. The groups having +I, -I , +M , -M efffects present on phenol will effect acidic nature of phenol. As +I or +M groups which are present at ortho and at para psitions will decrease the acidic character of phenol. If they are at meta position effect is less than at para or ortho positions.Similar to this -I or -M gorups are substituted on phenol they will increase the acidic nature. so, we can say that as the stability of phenoxide ion increases acidic nature of phenol also increases.Phenol is a weak acid because of the presence of the hydrogen ions.
