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Question
Why are carboxylic acids more acidic than alcohols or phenols although all of them have hydrogen atom attached to a oxygen atom \[\ce{(-O-H)}\]?
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Solution
The aliphatic carboxylic acids are stronger acids than alcohols and phenols. The difference in the relative acidic strengths can be understood if we compare the resonance hybrids of carboxylate ion and ethoxide phenoxide ion.
\[\ce{RCOOH ⇌ RCOO- + H+}\]
\[\ce{ROH ⇌ RO- + H+}\]
The resonance hybrids may be represented as:
\[\begin{array}{cc}
\phantom{.............}\ce{O^{δ-}}\\
\phantom{.........}//\\
\ce{R - C}\\
\phantom{........}\backslash\backslash\\
\phantom{............}\ce{O^{δ-}}\\
\end{array}\]
Carboxylate ion
Phenoxide ion
\[\ce{RO-}\]
(No resonance)
The resonance hybrids may be represented as: Carboxylate ion Phenoxide ion (No resonance)
The electron charge on the carboxylate ion is more dispersed in comparison to the phenate ion since there are two electronegative oxygen atoms in carboxylate ion as compared to only one oxygen atom in phenoxide ion. In other words, the carboxylate ion is relatively more stable as compared to phenate ion. Thus, the release of H+ ion from carboxylic acid is comparatively easier or it behaves as a stronger acid than phenol.
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