Solution
Related Formula
Acid Strength ∝ Stability of Conjugate BaseCore Logic
Order of acidity among functional groups:
- Benzenesulfonic acid (Ph-SO₃H) arrow Conjugate base stabilized by 3 equivalent resonance structures. (Most acidic)
- Benzoic acid (Ph-COOH) arrow Conjugate base stabilized by 2 equivalent carboxylate resonance structures.
- Phenol (Ph-OH) arrow Phenoxide ion resonance-stabilized over the aromatic ring.
- Terminal alkyne (EtO₂C-C ≡ CH) arrow Proton lost from sp-hybridized carbon. Though electron-withdrawing ester group increases C-H acidity, terminal alkynes are significantly less acidic than phenols, carboxylic acids, and sulfonic acids (pKₐ ≈ 18--20 vs pKa ≈ 10 for phenol).
Step 1: Final Conclusion
Compound (A) is the least acidic among the given choices.
Pattern Recognition
Acidity order: -SO₃H > -COOH > -OH (phenol) > -C ≡ CH (terminal alkyne).
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Chemistry: Organic Chemistry - Some Basic Principles and Techniques