Q55 of 74 Page 158

The carbon-oxygen bond in phenol is slightly stronger than that in methanol. Why?

The carbon-oxygen bond in phenol is slightly stronger than that in methanol because of two reasons:

i) Due to the resonance, it develops apartial double bond character in carbon-oxygen bond. Thus, decrease in the size of carbon-oxygen bond in phenol.


ii) In phenol, Oxygen is directly attached to a sp2hybridized carbon atom, whereas in methanol, Oxygen is directly attached to a sp3 hybridized carbon atom. Thus, the bond formed between oxygen and sp2 hybridized carbon atom is slightly stronger than that in methanol.


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