Arrange the given compounds in decreasing order of acidity and give a suitable explanation, Phenol, o-nitrophenol, o-cresol

Explanation

Increasing order of acidity:
0-Cresol `lt` Phenol `lt` 0-Nitrophenol

`(-CH_(3))` gives electrons and intensify the charge on phenoxide ion and therefore makes it unstable. Therefore, o cresol is less acidic than phenol. In o-nitrophenol, the electron withdrawing `(-NO_(2))` group withdraws electrons and disperses the-ve charge and stabilizes the phenoxide ion. Therefore, o-nitrophenol is more acidic than phenol.