Acidic Nature of Phenols? Why phenols are more acidic than alcohol

Phenols are more acidic than Alcohols reason:

1. Due to higher electronegativity of SP² hybridised carbon of phenol to which OH group is attached electron density is decrease on oxygen. This increases the polarity of OH bond which is turn increases the acidic nature of Phenols. 

2. In alkoxide negative charge localised on oxygen while in case of phenoxide ion the negative charge on oxygen atom is delocalised in benzene ring. Hence, Phenoxide ion is more stable than alkoxide ion. 

3. The presence of electron withdrawing group on phenols increases the polarity of OH group which in turn increases the acidic nature of Phenols.  

Acidic Strength Under 

Para < Ortho < Meta < Phenols  

4. The presence of electron repelling group (CH3, C2H5) decrease the polarity of OH bonds in Phenols which in turn decrease the acidic nature of Phenols. 

Acidic Strength Under 

Para > Ortho > Meta > Phenols