Chapter 21, Problem 21.32P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

p-nitrophenol is a stronger acid than phenol. This statement has to be accounted.

Concept Introduction:

Stronger and weaker acids:

Stronger acids are more reactive because of their less stability whereas weaker acids are less reactive because of their more stability. Stronger acids have high ${\text{K}}_{\text{a}}$ value and low ${\text{pK}}_{\text{a}}$ value whereas weaker acids low ${\text{K}}_{\text{a}}$ value and high ${\text{pK}}_{\text{a}}$ value.

Acidity with respect to resonance contributors:

The compounds with more resonance contributors are meant to be more acidic than those with less resonance contributors. It is because, the effective delocalization of electrons among more resonance contributors enables the acidic proton to be easily removed and hence the compounds with more resonance contributors are meant be more acidic whereas the less effective delocalization of electrons among less resonance contributors does not enable the acidic proton to be easily removed and hence the compounds with less resonance contributors are meant be less acidic.