Question

Why carboxylic acids are more acidic than alcohol and phenols.

Answer 1

The solution is as follows:

Carboxylic acids are more acidic than alcohols and phenols. This is because:

- Alcohols are not resonance stabilised but carboxylate ions are.

- Resonance in carboxylic acids is qualitative as negative charge delocalises on oxygen rather than carbon (in phenol) as oxygen is more electronegative than carbon.