Mark the correct order of decreasing acid strength of the following compounds.

(a)



(b)



(c)



(d)



(e)



The presence of electron-withdrawing group(e.g. nitro group), enhances the acidic strength of phenol.It is due to the effective delocalization of negative charge in phenoxide ion.

On the other hand, electron releasing groups (e.g. -OCH3) in general, do not favour the formation of phenoxide ion resulting in a decrease in the acidic nature.


The effect is more when the substituent group is more at the ortho position or para position in comparison to the meta position.


1