Question

Ethyl alcohol and phenol both contain OH group. Why phenol is acidic and alcohol is neutral in nature? Give reason.

Answer 1

Explanation of acidic nature of phenol : One possible explanation why phenols are stronger acids as compared to alcohols is that phenols exist as a resonance hybrid.
Due to resonance, the oxygen atom gets a positive charge and attracts the electrons pair of the $O-H$ bond and thus facilitates the release of a proton. The phenoxide ion formed after the release of a proton is also stabilized by resonance.

$C_6{H}_{5}OH\to C_6{H}_5^{-}+H^{+}$
In alcohols, no resonance is possible hence the hydrogen, atom is more firmly linked to the oxygen.