Why is it that phenol is acidic and hexanol is neutral towards a solution of NaOH?
Solution
Phenol + NaOH → sodium phenoxide + HO: the reaction goes because the phenoxide charge is delocalised over the ring.
Hexan-1-ol would give an alkoxide with the full charge localised on O, intensified by the alkyl +I effect — energetically unfavourable, so hexanol shows no acidity toward NaOH.
Hexan-1-ol would give an alkoxide with the full charge localised on O, intensified by the alkyl +I effect — energetically unfavourable, so hexanol shows no acidity toward NaOH.
CBSE Class 12 Board · 2001 · All India · Subjective