2006-11-19 02:38:56 · 4 answers · asked by MisterMeToo 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The greater acidity of phenols is due to the stability of the phenoxide ion which is resonsnce stabilized.
Phenoxide ion is a benzene ring with (O-) attached to it.( Note that this Oxygen atom has 3 lone pairs)
you get 5 resonance structures for phenoxide ion.
More the no of resonance strucutres, more resonance stabilized it is.
whereas in alcohols atmost 2 resonance structures only are possible which accounts for its less stability and hence less acidity.
2006-11-19 02:50:04 · answer #1 · answered by fm02 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Phenol and phenoxide ion(formed with the help of loss of a proton from phenol) are resonance stabilised. however the style of resonance types for phenoxide is better than that for phenol. So phenoxide is greater stable. From this we are able to understand that the tendency of the phenol molecule is to lose a proton making it greater stable and on an identical time acidic. Alcohols don't get carry of any stability with the help of the shortcoming of protons. so they're weaker acids while in comparison with phenols. An electron retreating team with attracts electrons from the O-H bond making it greater in possibility of lose a proton - in different words greater acidic. apparently it is so regardless of alcohols.
2016-12-29 05:23:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The oxygen on the phenol is stabilized by the phenyl ring and is therefore better able to exist in the ionized form than the alcohol.
2006-11-19 02:43:24 · answer #3 · answered by Bullwinkle Moose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the acidity of any organic substance is determined by the stability of anion produced by giving out of H+ ion.in phenol the stability is due to delocalisation of -ve charge on oxygen by resonance where as in alcohols there is no deloclisation
2006-11-19 03:03:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋