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Explain the acidic nature of phenols. |
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Answer» Solution :Phenols react with active metal like sodium to forin sodium PHENOXIDE. `2C_(6)H_(5)OH_2Na to 2C_(6)H_(5)ONa_H` Phenols react with aqueous sodium hydroxide to form sodium phenoxide. `C_(6)H_(5)OH+NaOH to C_(6)H_(5)ONa+H_(2)O` The above reactions shows that phenols are acidic in nature, Le. phenols are Bronsted acids. The acidic nature of phenol is due to : • The hydroxyl group ir phenol is directly attached to `SP^(2)` hylbridised carbon of benzene RING which acts as an electron WITHDRAWING group. Due to this phenol easily donates hydrogan ion. • The phenoxide ion is more stable due to resonance stabilisation and hence it favours the ionisation of phenols. • The electron withdrawing group increases the ACIDITY of phenols. Ex: Nitrophenols are more acidic than phenols. • The electron donating group decreases the acidity of phenols. Ex, Cresols are less acidic than phenols. |
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