Question

Explain why is ortho nitrophenol more acidic than ortho methoxyphenol?

Answer 1

Nitro $\left(N{O}_2\right)$ group is electron withdrawing whereas methoxy $\left(OC{H}_3\right)$ group is electron releasing in nature o-nitrophenol produces $H^{+}$ ions easily but methoxyphenol does not. This is because o-nitrophenoxide ion is stabilised due to resonance. This is not true with o-methoxyphenoxide ion. The two negative charges repel each other thereby destabilising it.