The correct order of increasing acidic strength is

Options

A. `"phenol"lt"ethanol"lt"chloroacetic acid"lt"acetic acid"`
B. `"ethanol"lt"phenol"lt"chloroacetic acid"lt"acetic acid"`
C. `"ethanol"lt"phenol"lt"acetic acid"lt"chloroacetic acid"`
D. `"chloroacetic acid"lt"acetic acid"lt"phenol"lt"ethanol"`

Answer

C

Explanation

Phenol is more stable than alcohol due to formation of more stable conjugate base after removal of `H^(+)` from phenol.

One the other hand, carboxylic acid is more acidic than phenol due to formation of more stable conjugate base after removal of `H^(+)` as compared to phenol.

Chloroacetic acid is more acidic than acetic acid due to the presence of electron withdrawing chlorine group attached to `alpha`-carbon of carboxylic acid. Hence, correct choice is (c).