Which of the following statements is true about phenols? (2023)
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following statements is true about phenols? (2023)
They are stronger acids than alcohols
They do not react with bases
They are less soluble in water than alcohols
They are non-toxic
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following statements is true about phenols? (2023)
Step 1: Understand what phenols are. Phenols are organic compounds that have a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a benzene ring.
Step 2: Know what alcohols are. Alcohols are organic compounds that also have a hydroxyl group (-OH), but they do not have a benzene ring.
Step 3: Learn about acidity. Acids are substances that can donate a proton (H+) to another substance.
Step 4: Recognize that phenols can donate a proton more easily than alcohols. This is because when phenols lose a proton, they form a phenoxide ion.
Step 5: Understand resonance stabilization. The phenoxide ion is stabilized by resonance, which means that the negative charge can be spread out over the benzene ring, making it more stable.
Step 6: Compare the stability of phenoxide ions to alkoxide ions (the ions formed from alcohols). Alkoxide ions do not have the same resonance stabilization as phenoxide ions.
Step 7: Conclude that because phenols are more stable as ions than alcohols, they are stronger acids.
