I. Read the passage given below and answer the following questions :
Alcohols are versatile compounds. They act both as nucleophiles and electrophiles. The bond between O-H is broken when alcohols act as nucleophiles
(i) Alcohols as nucleophiles

(ii) The bond between C-O is broken when they act as, electrophiles. Protonated alcohols react in this manner.
Protonated alcohols as electrophiles
`R-CH_(2)-OH+H to R-CH_(2)+OH_(2)`
Bases on the cleavage of O-H and C-O bonds, the reaction of alcohols and phenols may be divided into two groups :
(a) Reactions involving cleavage of O-H bond
(b) Reactions involving cleabage of C-O bond
Acidity of alcohols and phenols
(i) Reaction with metals : Alcohols and phenols react with active metals such as sodium, potassium and aluminium to yield corresponding alkoxide/phenoxides and hydrogen.
`2R-O-H+2Natounderset("Alkoxide")underset("Sodium")(2R-O-)Na+H_(2)`
Given the descending order of acid strength of alcohols.

Options

A. `RCH_(2)OH gt R R'CHOH gt gt R R'R'' COH`
B. `RCH_(2)OH gt R R'R''COH gt R R 'CHOH`
C. `RCH_(2)OH ltR R'CHPH lt lt R R'R''COH`
D. `RCH_(2)OH lt R R'R''COH lt R R'CHOH`

Answer

A

Explanation

The more stable the alkoxide ion, the more acidic is the alcohol. Electron releasing effect (+I effect) of alkyl group in secondary and tertiary alcohols makes the alkoxide ion less stable.