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Benzoic acid is a stronger acid than phenol because the benzoate ion is stabilized by two equivalent resonance structures in which the negative charge is present at the more electronegative oxygen atom. Thus, the benzoate ion is more stable than phenoxide ion. Hence, benzoic acid is a stronger acid than phenol. Phenol is more acidic than cyclohexanol and acyclic alcohols because the phenoxide ion is more stable than the alkoxide ion. In an alkoxide ion, such as the one derived from cyclohexanol, the negative charge is localized at the oxygen atom. Phenols substituted with electron-donating gro