NEET2004ChemistryGeneral Organic ChemistryActual
Assertion : The p K_a of acetic acid is lower than that of phenol. Reason : Phenoxide ion is more resonance stabilised.
Options
- AIf both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion
- BIf both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion
- CIf assertion is true but reason is false
- DIf both assertion and reason are false.
Correct answer
C. If assertion is true but reason is false
Step-by-step solution
Lower the value of p K_a , more acidic will be the compound. Acetic acid is more acidic than phenol. This indicates that carboxylate ion should be more stable than the phenoxide ion and it is clear that carboxylate ion has more equivalent resonating structures than the phenoxide ion.