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Answer the following.
Arrange the following in the increasing order of their acidic strength. Justify the order: Phenol…
Arrange the following in the increasing order of their acidic strength. Justify the order: Phenol, 4-methyl phenol, 3-nitrophenol.
Answer
Answer
Official answer keyOrder, first to last: 4-methyl phenol, Phenol, 3-nitrophenol
4-methyl phenol < phenol < 3-nitrophenol.
Reason: +I group ($-\mathrm{CH_3}$) in phenols decreases its acidity while -I groups ($-\mathrm{NO_2}$) increases it.
From ISC 2025 Practice Chemistry, question 57(b).