Phenate ion has more number of contributing structures than benzoate ion, but still benzoic acid is a stronger acid. Explain.

Explanation

To understand why benzoic acid is a stronger acid than phenolic acid despite the phenate ion having more contributing structures, we can break down the reasoning into clear steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Structures**:
- **Phenate Ion**: Derived from phenol (C6H5OH) when it loses a proton (H+), resulting in C6H5O⁻. The negative charge is localized on the oxygen atom.
- **Benzoate Ion**: Derived from benzoic acid (C6H5COOH) when it loses a proton, resulting in C6H5COO⁻. This ion has a carboxylate group (–COO⁻) where the negative charge is delocalized over two oxygen atoms.

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