The correct order for acidity of the following hydroxyl compound is:
A.
B.
C. (see structure)
D. (see structure)
E. (see structure)
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
A.
B.
C. (see structure)
D. (see structure)
E. (see structure)
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- (A)E C D A B✓ Correct
- (B)D E C A B
- (C)C E D B A

- (D)E D C B A

Answer: (A)
Solution
Compounds C, D and E are phenols while A and B are alcohols, and acidity is decided by how stable the conjugate base is. In E the para nitro group withdraws electrons and spreads the negative charge of the phenoxide, making it the strongest acid. Plain phenol C follows. In D the para methoxy group releases electrons by resonance and destabilises the phenoxide, so it is a weaker acid than phenol. Both phenols are far more acidic than the alcohols, since an alkoxide gains no resonance stabilisation. Among the alcohols methanol A is more acidic than tert-butanol B, because the three electron-releasing methyl groups of tert-butanol destabilise its alkoxide the most. The decreasing order of acidity is .
JEE Main · 2023 · 10 Apr 2023 · Shift 2 · Single correct option