phenols

Question 1

What are phenols?

Answer 1

Aromatic rings with hydroxyl group

Question 2

What is the relative acidity of phenols compared to alcohols?

Answer 2

More acidic than alcohols. Phenoxide ion is more stable than alkoxides due to resonance

Question 3

How do EWG and EDG contribute to phenol derivative acidity?

Answer 3

EWG stabilizes formation of phenoxide ion, increases acidity, decreases pKa
EDG unstabilizes formation of phenoxide ion, decreases acidity, increases pKa