Which of the following statements is correct

Options

A. Phenol is less acidic than ethyl alcohol
B. Phenol is more acidic than ethyl alcohol
C. Phenol is more acidic than carboxylic acid
D. Phenol is more acidic than carbonic acid

Explanation

To determine which statement is correct regarding the acidity of phenols, alcohols, and carboxylic acids, we can analyze the acidity of the compounds mentioned:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Acidity**:
- Acidity refers to the ability of a compound to donate a proton (H⁺). The more easily a compound can lose a proton, the stronger its acidity.

2. **Analyzing Phenol**:
- Phenol (C₆H₅OH) can lose a proton to form the phenoxide ion (C₆H₅O⁻). The phenoxide ion is resonance-stabilized, meaning the negative charge can be delocalized over the aromatic ring, which increases its stability.

3. **Analyzing Ethyl Alcohol**:
- Ethyl alcohol (C₂H₅OH) can lose a proton to form the ethoxide ion (C₂H₅O⁻). The ethoxide ion is not as resonance-stabilized as the phenoxide ion; it is primarily stabilized by inductive effects from the alkyl group, which is less effective than resonance stabilization.

4. **Comparing Acidity**:
- Since the phenoxide ion is more stable than the ethoxide ion due to resonance, phenol is more acidic than ethyl alcohol. Therefore, any statement claiming otherwise is false.

5. **Analyzing Carboxylic Acids**:
- Carboxylic acids (RCOOH) are generally more acidic than both phenols and alcohols. When a carboxylic acid loses a proton, it forms a carboxylate ion (RCOO⁻), which is also resonance-stabilized, making it more stable than both phenoxide and ethoxide ions.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the analysis, we can conclude that:
- Phenol is more acidic than ethyl alcohol (True).
- Phenol is less acidic than carboxylic acids (True).
- Phenol is less acidic than carbonic acid (True).

### Final Answer:
The correct statement is: **Phenol is more acidic than ethyl alcohol.**