The correct order of decreasing acidity of nitrophenols will be:

m - n i t r o p h e n o l > p - n i t r o p h e n o l > o - n i t r o p h e n o l

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o - n i t r o p h e n o l > m - n i t r o p h e n o l > p - n i t r o p h e n o l

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p - n i t r o p h e n o l > m - n i t r o p h e n o l > o - n i t r o p h e n o l

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p - n i t r o p h e n o l > o - n i t r o p h e n o l > m - n i t r o p h e n o l

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Solution

The correct option is D $p - n i t r o p h e n o l > o - n i t r o p h e n o l > m - n i t r o p h e n o l$
$- {N O}_{2}$ group at ortho and para position withdraws electrons of the $O - H$ bond towards itself by the stronger $- R$ effect while the $- {N O}_{2}$ group at m-position withdraw electrons of the $O - H$ bond by the weaker effect.

Thus, ortho and para nitrophenols are more acidic than meta nitrophenol is little less acidic than p-nitrophenol due to intramolecular H-bonding which makes loss of a proton little more difficult.

$∴$ The order of acidity of nitrophenol is:

p- nitrophenol> o-nitrophenol> m-nitrophenol

Hence, option D is correct.

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