Ortho and para nitrophenols are more acidic than phenol.

Question:

Ortho and para nitrophenols are more acidic than phenol. Draw the resonance structures of the corresponding phenoxide ions.

Solution:

Resonance structure of the phenoxide ion

Resonance structures of p-nitrophenoxide ion

Resonance structures of o-nitrophenoxide ion

It can be observed that the presence of nitro groups increases the stability of phenoxide ion.

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