Question

The ascending order of acidity of –OH group in the following compounds is: 

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

• A. \( (A) < (D) < (C) < (B) < (E)\)
• B. \( (C) < (A) < (D) < (B) < (E)\)
• C. \( (C) < (D) < (B) < (A) < (E)\)
• D. \( (A) < (C) < (D) < (B) < (E)\)

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The acidity of phenols increases with the presence of electron-withdrawing groups (like -NO₂) and decreases with electron-donating groups (like -CH₃).

• (A): Contains a butyl group (electron-donating), making it the least acidic.
• (C): Contains a methoxy group (CH₃O-) (electron-donating), slightly more acidic than (A).
• (D): Simple phenol (C₆H₅OH), with no additional electron-withdrawing or donating groups, has moderate acidity.
• (B): Contains an -OH group with a chlorine substituent (electron-withdrawing) on the aromatic ring, making it more acidic than (D).
• (E): Contains an -OH group with a nitro substituent (NO₂) which is strongly electron-withdrawing, making it the most acidic.

Thus, the correct order of acidity is $(A) < (C) < (D) < (B) < (E)$.