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

Phenol is indeed more acidic than ethanol, and this increased acidity is due to the greater stability of the phenoxide ion compared to the ethoxide ion. The negative charge on the oxygen in phenoxide is stabilized by resonance with the aromatic ring, whereas ethoxide ion does not have such stabilization. Therefore, Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A).