Which is the most acidic compound among the following?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The acidic character of alcohol is due to the polar nature of O-H bond. An electron-donating group (EDG) such as -CH3, -C2H5 increases electron density on oxygen leading to a decrease in polarity of the O-H bond. This decreases the acid strength. Therefore, the decreasing order of acidity of alcohol is:
Primary > Secondary >>Tertiary