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Chapter 3: Problem 138

Phenol is less acidic than (a) water (b) ethanol (c) p-nitrophenol (d) p-methoxyphenol

Short Answer

Expert verified
a) Water b) Ethanol c) p-nitrophenol d) p-methoxyphenol Answer: c) p-nitrophenol

Step by step solution

01

Identify the given compounds and their pKa values

We are given five compounds and their corresponding pKa values are as follows: - Phenol (Ph-OH) has a pKa value of 9.95 - Water (H2O) has a pKa value of 15.7 - Ethanol (Et-OH) has a pKa value of 15.9 - p-nitrophenol (Ph-NO2-OH) has a pKa value of 7.15 - p-methoxyphenol (Ph-OCH3-OH) has a pKa value of 10.2
02

Compare the pKa values of each substance with phenol

Now, we need to compare the pKa values of each substance with phenol's pKa value to determine which one is more acidic. To do this, we will examine if the given substance has a lower (more acidic) or higher (less acidic) pKa value in comparison to phenol: - Phenol (9.95) vs Water (15.7): Water is less acidic as its pKa value is higher. - Phenol (9.95) vs Ethanol (15.9): Ethanol is less acidic as its pKa value is higher. - Phenol (9.95) vs p-nitrophenol (7.15): p-nitrophenol is more acidic as its pKa value is lower. - Phenol (9.95) vs p-methoxyphenol (10.2): p-methoxyphenol is less acidic as its pKa value is higher.
03

Select the correct option

Now based on the comparisons we have made above, phenol is less acidic than water, ethanol, and p-methoxyphenol, but it is more acidic than p-nitrophenol. Therefore, the correct answer is: (c) p-nitrophenol

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Reaction of excess of benzene with chloroform in presence of anhydrous chloride gives (a) biphenyl (b) triphenyl methane (c) anthracene (d) diphenyl methane

The compound (A) when treated with methanol and few drops of conc.H \(_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) gives the smell of oil of winter green. The compound (A) is (a) phenol (b) benzene (c) \(\mathrm{p}\) -cresol (d) salicylic acid

Which of the following statements is correct about phenols? (a) Electron releasing groups increases acidic character (b) Electron withdrawing substituents decreases acidic character (c) Phenol is less resonance stabilized than phenoxide ion. (d) Phenol turns red litmus blue

Which of the following reagents can effect hydroxylation at an aromatic carbon? (a) aqueous KOH (b) alcoholic KOH (c) alkaline \(\mathrm{KMnO}_{4}\) (d) Fenton's reagent

Which of the following structures is not aromatic?
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