Given below are two statements: Statement I: The acidic strength of monosubstituted nitrophenol is higher than phenol because of electron withdrawing nitro group. Statement II: o-nitrophenol, m-nitrophenol and p-nitrophenol will have same acidic strength as they have one nitro group attached to the phenolic ring. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.
Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect.
Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.
Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.
Nitro group has electron withdrawing tendency. It can withdraw electrons both by -I effect and -R effect. Thus the acidic strength of monosubstituted nitrophenol is higher than phenol. Nitro group present at o- and p-positions will have strong -R effect while nitro group present at m-position will influence only -I effect hence acidity of o/p isomer will be more than m-isomer.
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