Assertion: Phenol undergoes Kolbe's reaction whereas ethanol does not. Reason : Phenoxide ion is more basic…

Assertion: Phenol undergoes Kolbe's reaction whereas ethanol does not. Reason : Phenoxide ion is more basic than ethoxide ion.
  1. If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
  2. Ifboth assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
  3. If assertion is true but reason is false.
  4. If both assertion and reason are false.

Solution

Phenol undergoes Kolbe's reaction (an electrophilic substitution reaction) because conjugate base (phenoxide ion) is less basic than ethoxide $\left(\mathrm{C}_2 \mathrm{H}_5 \mathrm{O}^{-}\right)$ion.

Asked in: NEET 2011 (Mains)

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