Arrange the following in decreasing order of acidity : phenol (IV) and the ortho (I), meta (II) and para (III) ethylphenols.
(I) (II) (III) (IV)

Question

Arrange the following in decreasing order of acidity : phenol (IV) and the ortho (I), meta (II) and para (III) ethylphenols. (I) (II) (III) (IV)

TestHub · Accepted Answer

The ethyl group donates electrons (+I and hyperconjugation) and destabilises the phenoxide ion, so each ethylphenol is less acidic than phenol (IV).

The meta isomer has only the weak +I effect, so it is the most acidic of the three. The +I effect is stronger at ortho than at para, so para $>$ ortho.

Order : IV $>$ II $>$ III $>$ I.

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