Question:
Out of 2-chloroethanol and ethanol which is more acidic and why?
Solution:
2-chloroethanol is more acidic because of the presence of chlorine which is an electron-withdrawing group. This results in a negative inductive effect and thus, the
electron density in the –O-H bond decreases. It stabilizes the alkoxide ion and therefore, 2-chloroethanol can easily release a proton.