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COMEDK · Chemistry · 26. Alcohols Phenols and Ethers

Arrange the following compounds in the decreasing order of their acidic strength.
(I) m-cresol
(II) Phenol
(III) m-aminophenol
(IV) m-methoxyphenol

  1. A I > II > III > IV
  2. B IV > III > II > I
  3. C I > III > IV > II
  4. D III > I > II > IV
Verified Solution

Answer & Solution

Correct Answer

(B) IV > III > II > I

Step-by-step Solution

Detailed explanation

At meta position, only inductive effect (I-effect) operates, not resonance. m-methoxyphenol: \(-OCH_3\) has strong \(-I\) effect (O is highly electronegative) \(\to\) stabilizes phenoxide \(\to\) most acidic. m-aminophenol: \(-NH_2\) has \(-I\) effect but weaker than \(-OCH_3\)…