Question

Both phenol and alcohol contains -OH group, but still phenol is more acidic than alcohol. Explain why?

Answer 1

Phenol ionises to give phenoxide ion and $H^{+}$, while alcohol on ionozation gives alkoxide ion and $H^{+}$

Refer Image

Phenoxide ion left after release of a proton is stabilized by resonance but alkoxide ion is not. Hence phenol is more acidic than alcohols.