**Phenol is more acidic than ethanol** because:
- Phenol has more carbon atoms
- Phenoxide anion is resonance-stabilised by the aromatic ring
- Ethanol has higher molecular weight
- Phenol is a base
Show answer and solution
Correct answer: B. Phenoxide anion is resonance-stabilised by the aromatic ring
After loss of H⁺, phenoxide (PhO⁻) delocalises negative charge into the ring (ortho/para positions) via resonance ⇒ very stable.
Ethoxide (CH₃CH₂O⁻) has no such stabilisation.
pKa: phenol ~10, ethanol ~16. Phenol is ~6 orders of magnitude more acidic.