Directions: Each question contains Statement- 1 and Statement-2 and has the following choices (a), (b), (c) and (d), out of which ONLY ONE is correct. (a) Statement- 1 is True, Statement- 2 is True; Statement- 2 is a correct explanation for Statement- 1 (b) Statement- 1 is True, Statement- 2 is True; Statement- 2 is NOT a correct explanation for Statement-1 (c) Statement- 1 is True, Statement- 2 is False (d) Statement- 1 is False, Statement- 2 is True Statement 1 p-nitrophenol is more acidic than o - nitrophenol. and Statement 2 Steric effect due to the presence of \(-\mathrm{NO}_{2}\) group at ortho position of \(-\mathrm{OH}\) decreases the acidic strength of o-nitrophenol.

Acidity in phenol compounds is due to the presence of the hydroxyl group (-OH) which can lose an \(H^{+}\) ion, forming a phenoxide ion (Phenol\(^{-}\)). The more stable the phenoxide ion, the better the acidity of a phenol compound. p-nitrophenol: The nitro group (-NO2) is present at the para position of the hydroxyl group. The nitro group has a strong -R (resonance) effect which establishes electron attraction and results in the better stabilization of the phenoxide ion formed after losing the H+ ion. o-nitrophenol: The nitro group is present at the ortho position of the hydroxyl group. The nitro group's -R effect is weaker than in p-nitrophenol, which results in lesser stability of the phenoxide ion. Comparing the two, p-nitrophenol is more acidic than o-nitrophenol. Therefore, Statement 1 is true.

The steric effect refers to the repulsion between atoms or groups within a molecule because of their size or spatial arrangement. In the case of o-nitrophenol, the nitro group (-NO2) is present at the ortho position, which is adjacent to the hydroxyl group (-OH). The presence of the bulky nitro group could cause some steric hindrance, but it has little effect on the acidity strength of o-nitrophenol. The difference in acidity between p-nitrophenol and o-nitrophenol is mainly due to differences in the resonance stabilization of the phenoxide ion. Therefore, Statement 2 is false.

Based on our analysis, Statement 1 is true, and Statement 2 is false. Thus, the correct option is: (c) Statement- 1 is True, Statement- 2 is False