Which of the following orders is true regarding the acidic nature of phenol?
Which of the following orders is true regarding the acidic nature of phenol?
Phenol $>o$-Cresol $>o$-Nitrophenol
Phenol $>o$-Cresol $ < o$-Nitrophenol
Phenol $ < o$-Cresol $>o$-Nitrophenol
Phenol $ < o$-Cresol $ < o$-Nitrophenol
Solution
Methyl group is activating group (electron release to benzene) and nitro group is deactivating group (electron withdrawal group). Methyl group will make release of $\mathrm{H}^{+}$more difficult and nitro group will make it more easy.