Question

Assertion (A): Phenol is strongly acidic as compared to ethanol.
Reason (R): Phenoxide ion is more stable than ethoxide ion.

• A. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
• B. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
• C. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
• D. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Hint:

Phenol’s increased acidity is due to the resonance stabilization of the phenoxide ion, which is not available for ethoxide.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The phenoxide ion is more stable than the ethoxide ion, resulting in phenol being more acidic than ethanol. Resonance stabilization of the negative charge on the oxygen by the aromatic ring accounts for the phenoxide ion's stability, a feature absent in ethoxide. Consequently, Reason (R) accurately justifies Assertion (A).