Which of the following is strongly acidic ?

1.	Which of the following is strongly acidic ?
Answer» Phenol o-Cresol p-Nitrophenol p-Cresol Solution :Electron withdrawing groups such as `-NO_(2)`, group withdraws ELECTRONS, disperses the negative CHARGE, stabilizes the PHENOXIDE ION w.r.t. phenol and this increase the acidic strength. Electron-donating group such as `-CH_(3)` destabilizes the phenoxide ion by intensifying the negative charge relative to phenol. This tend to decrese the acidic strength of phenols In cresols presence of `-CH_(3)` group decreases the acidic character while in nitrophenol presence of `-NO_(2)` increases the acidic character. Thus p-nitrophenol is most acidic.

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