Which of the following orders is true regarding the acidic nature of phenol?

Options

A. Phenol `gt` O-cresol `gt` O-nitrophenol
B. O-cresol `lt` phenol `lt` O-nitrophenol
C. phenol `lt` 0-cresol `gt` O-nitrophenol
D. phenol `lt` O-cresol `lt` O-nitrophenol III

Answer

B

Explanation

Presence of electron releasing group like CH3 over benzene nucleus destabilises the phenoxide ion, thus decreases the acidity of phenol where as Presence of electron withdrawing group like `NO_2` stabilises the phonoxide ion and thus increases acidity of Phenol, hence order of acidity will be O-cresol `lt` phenol `lt` O- nitrophenol