5. (a) Describe and explain how the acidities of ethanol and phenol compare to that of water - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 5 - 2011 - Paper 1
Question 5
5. (a) Describe and explain how the acidities of ethanol and phenol compare to that of water.
Ethanol is less acidic than water due to the effective inductive effec... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:5. (a) Describe and explain how the acidities of ethanol and phenol compare to that of water - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 5 - 2011 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe and explain how the acidities of ethanol and phenol compare to that of water.
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Answer
Ethanol is less acidic than water because the presence of the ethyl group contributes electron density to the oxygen atom, strengthening the O-H bond and making it less likely to release a proton. In contrast, phenol is more acidic than ethanol due to the stabilization of the phenoxide ion resulting from the resonance stabilization that the benzene ring provides. This delocalization of charge makes the anion more stable compared to that of ethanol.
Step 2
Complete the following equations: Phenol + Na
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Answer
Phenol + Na → Phenoxide ion + H2
Step 3
Complete the following equations: Phenol + NaOH
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Answer
Phenol + NaOH → Sodium phenoxide + H2O
Step 4
Complete the following equations: Phenol + CH3CO2H
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Answer
Phenol + CH3CO2H → NO REACTION
Step 5
Complete the following equations: Phenol + Br2
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