Arrange the following compounds in increasing order of their acidic strength:
(i) m-nitrophenol (ii) m-cresol
(iii) phenol (iv) m-chlorophenol

Options

A. `III lt II lt I lt IV`
B. `II lt IV lt III lt I`
C. `II lt III lt IV lt I`
D. `II lt III lt I lt IV`

Answer

C

Explanation

m-cresol has an electron releasing group `(CH_3)`. Hence, it decreases the acidic strength.Both nitro and chloro are having -I effect. Hence, they show higher acidic strength . But nitro is a stronger -I group than chloro group . Hence, m-nitro phenol is more acidic than m-chlorophenol So increasing order of acidic strength is II lt III lt IV lt I .