Arrange the following compounds in decreasing order of their acidic strength: (I) Phenol, (II) p-Cre — GOC and Organic Chemistry Basics Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

p-Cresol (II) has a destabilizing $+H, +I$ group (weakest). Phenol (I) is the reference. m-Nitrophenol (III) has a $-I$ effect. p-Nitrophenol (IV) is stabilized by powerful $-M$ and $-I$ effects. Order: IV > III > I > II.