Question

Explain: Phenols are acid while alcohol is neutral.

Answer 1

1. Ionisation of alcohol:
   
   Electron donating inductive effect (+I effect) of alkyl group destabilizes the alkoxide ion (the conjugate base of alcohol). As a result alcohol does not ionize much in water, and behaves like neutral compound in aqueous medium.
2. Ionisation of phenol:
   
   Phenoxide ion, the conjugate base of phenol, is resonace stabilized by delocalization of the negative charge.Therefore phenol ionizes in aqueous medium to a moderate extent, and thereby shows a weak acidic character.