Which of the following compounds has the most acidic nature?
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Answer
(2) [figure]
Solution
Phenol is the most acidic of these: the phenoxide ion is stabilised by delocalisation of the negative charge over the benzene ring.
Benzyl alcohol, cyclohexanol and dicyclohexylmethanol are alcohols; in their alkoxide ions the negative charge stays on oxygen (no resonance), so they are much weaker acids.
Answer: (2)