I keep getting “Acidity of alcohols vs phenols” questions wrong in Alcohols, Phenols & Ethers. What's the trap?
ranking an alcohol as more acidic than a phenol.
The usual trap: ranking an alcohol as more acidic than a phenol. How to avoid it: phenoxide spreads its charge into the ring → phenol is the stronger acid. Go back to the definition — phenols are far more acidic than alcohols because the phenoxide ion is stabilised by resonance into the ring.
Key point
Acidity of alcohols vs phenols
Common mistake
ranking an alcohol as more acidic than a phenol.
Memory tip
phenoxide spreads its charge into the ring → phenol is the stronger acid.
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