Which of the following is the correct order of acidity for the following compoun

Which of the following is the correct order of acidity for the following compounds: phenol, ethanol, and water?

Which of the following is the correct order of acidity for the following compounds: phenol, ethanol, and water?

Step 1: Understand what acidity means. Acidity refers to how easily a compound can donate a proton (H+).
Step 2: Identify the compounds we are comparing: phenol, ethanol, and water.
Step 3: Look at the structure of each compound. Phenol has a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a benzene ring, ethanol has a hydroxyl group attached to an ethyl group, and water is H2O.
Step 4: Consider the stability of the ions formed when each compound donates a proton. When phenol donates a proton, it forms a phenoxide ion, which is stabilized by resonance.
Step 5: When water donates a proton, it forms a hydroxide ion (OH-), which is less stable than the phenoxide ion.
Step 6: When ethanol donates a proton, it forms an ethoxide ion, which is also less stable than the phenoxide ion.
Step 7: Compare the stability of the ions: phenoxide ion (from phenol) is the most stable, followed by hydroxide ion (from water), and then ethoxide ion (from ethanol).
Step 8: Conclude the order of acidity: phenol is more acidic than water, and water is more acidic than ethanol.

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