Question

Among the following choose the most acidic compound.

• A. Phenol
• B. Carboxylic acid
• C. Ethyl alcohol
• D. Ether

Answer 1

The correct option is B Carboxylic acid

Carboxylic acid is most acidic among the given compounds. It is because the carboxylate ion formed after removal of $H^{+}$ ion is more resonance stabilised than phenoxide ion becuase it forms equivalent resonating structures as shown:


The increasing order of acidity of compounds are $\text{Ether <Ethyl alcohol < Phenol < Carboxylic acid}$