Q.14 Give two reactions that show the acidic nature of phenol. Compare acidity of phenol with that of ethanol.
1. Phenol reacts with sodium to give sodium phenoxide, liberating hydrogen gas.
2. Phenol reacts with sodium hydroxide to give sodium phenoxide and water.
Phenol is more acidic than ethanol. This is because phenol after losing a proton becomes phenoxide ion which is highly stable due to resonance whereas ethoxide ion does not.