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Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
Consider the following compounds
1. Phenol
2. o-chlorophenol
3. m-chlorophenol
4. p-chlorophenol
Place these compounds in the decreasing order of acidity
ChemistryAlcohols Phenols and EthersNEET
Options:
  • A 1 > 2 > 3 > 4
  • B 2 > 3 > 4 > 1
  • C 3 > 4 > 1 > 2
  • D 2 > 3 > 1 > 4
Solution:
2895 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is: 2 > 3 > 4 > 1
Although Cl is electron donating by resonance, yet its electron withdrawing acid-strengthening inductive effect (that decreases with increasing separation of Cl and OH) predominates over electron donating, acid weakening resonance effect. This makes all chlorophenols more acidic than phenol. As –I effect decreases with distance so the decreasing order of acidity is 2 > 3 > 4 > 1.

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