Assertion : Phenols cannot be converted into esters by direct reaction with carboxylic acids.
Reason : Electron withdrawing groups increase the acidity of phenols.

Options

A. If both assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
B. If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
C. If assertion is true but reason is false.
D. If the assertion and reason both are false.

Explanation

To analyze the given assertion and reason, we will break down the concepts involved step by step.

### Step 1: Understanding the Assertion
The assertion states that "Phenols cannot be converted into esters by direct reaction with carboxylic acids."

- **Explanation**: Phenols are aromatic compounds that contain a hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to a benzene ring. In general, esters are formed through the reaction of an alcohol with a carboxylic acid. However, phenols are less nucleophilic compared to aliphatic alcohols. This reduced nucleophilicity makes it difficult for phenols to react directly with carboxylic acids to form esters.

### Step 2: Understanding the Reason
The reason states that "Electron withdrawing groups increase the acidity of phenols."

- **Explanation**: Electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs) such as nitro (-NO2) groups increase the acidity of phenols by stabilizing the phenoxide ion (the conjugate base formed when phenol loses a proton). When a proton is removed from phenol, the resulting phenoxide ion is more stable if there are electron-withdrawing groups present. This is because the EWG helps to delocalize the negative charge on the oxygen atom.

### Step 3: Evaluating the Relationship between Assertion and Reason
Now, we need to evaluate whether the reason provided is a correct explanation of the assertion.

- **Analysis**: While both the assertion and the reason are true statements, the reason does not directly explain why phenols cannot be converted into esters by direct reaction with carboxylic acids. The assertion is about the reactivity of phenols in ester formation, while the reason discusses the acidity of phenols in the presence of electron-withdrawing groups.

### Conclusion
- **Assertion**: True
- **Reason**: True, but it is not a correct explanation of the assertion.

Thus, the correct conclusion is that the assertion is true, the reason is true, but the reason does not explain the assertion.

### Final Answer
The assertion is true, the reason is true, but the reason is not the correct explanation for the assertion.

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