Question

Alcohols are acidic but they are weaker acids than water. Arrange various isomers of butanol in the increasing order of their acidic nature. Give a reason for the same.

Answer 1

Isomers of butanol are Butan-1-ol, butan-2-ol, 2-methylpropanol, and 2-methylpropan-2-ol.

Acidic strength in isomeric alcohols varies as follows:

The acidic character of alcohols is due to the polar nature of the O-H bond. An electron-releasing group \[\ce{(-CH3, -C2H5)}\] increases electron density on oxygen, tending to decrease the polarity of the O-H bond.

2-methylpropan-2-ol < 2-methylpropanol < butan-2-ol < Butan-1-ol