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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
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoPhenol is more acidic than ethanol because the negative charge of the conjugate base is more delocalized in phenol, due to resonance structures involving the aromatic ring. The delocalization of the negative charge stabilizes the conjugate base, making the compound more acidic. Ethanol cannot benefit from such an effect, and thus the conjugate base is less stable than that of phenol and it is less acidic.
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Why ethanol is less acidic than phenol?
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.
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.
Which is nitrated faster toluene or phenol Explain?
The nitration of phenol is more rapid than that of toluene.
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.
Is 2-naphthol soluble in ethanol?
yes, it is much more soluble in ethanol than in water.
Is water more acidic than phenol?
No. Phenol is far more acidic than water.
Why phenol more acidic than aliphatic alcohol and water?
why phenol more than aliphatic alcohol and water
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.
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 phenol is stronger acid than ethanol?
phenol is aromatic compound stabilized by resonance where as ethanol is aliphatic
Why ethanol is less acidic than phenol?
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.
Which is more acidic phenol or para-chloro phenol?
Phenol. Anisole doesn't have any acidic protons.
Is 1-hexanol more acidic or less acidic than phenol?
1-hexanol is an alcohol so it is a neutral compound not an acid while phenol is a strong acid.
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.
Why is phenol more soluble in aqueous NaOH than in water?
Phenol is acidic in nature. The phenolate anion is stable through resonance. Hence, an acid base reaction ensues between phenol and NaOH in water resulting in the formation of sodium phenolate, which is highly soluble in water compared to phenol.
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 chloride is more acidic in nature than phenol flouride?
in Cl the resonance occurs from 3p orbitals but in F resonance occurs from 2p orbitals due this reason F increase electron density in conjugate base more as compare to Cl .
