Question

Why is a phenol more acidic than a regular alcohol? Group of answer choices

Answer 1

Answer:

a.Phenols have the ability to spread out the negative charge that forms.

Explanation:

This happens because of  the aromatic ring the phenols have. When loosing the proton, the anion formed have different resonance isomers due to the double bonds in the aromatic ring. This resonance makes the anion more stable and prevents the reaction going backwards.

On the other hand, regular alcohol doesn't have resonace and the reaction of loosing the proton goes leftward and righward: is in equilibrium.

That equilibrium decreases the acidity of the alcohol.