Why does phenol show acidic properties in aqueous solution? give examples.

The lone electron pair of oxygen enters into conjugation with the benzene ring and supplies electron density to it. The lack of electron density of the oxygen of the hydroxyl group is compensated by the hydrogen electron. The O – H bond becomes more polar: hydrogen acquires a partial positive charge, which explains the acidic properties of phenol.

Examples of the acidity of phenol are:

1.reversible dissociation in aqueous solution:

C6H5OH ↔ C6H5O- + H +;

2.reactions of neutralization with the formation of phenolates of metals and water:

C6H5OH + KOH → C6H5OK + H2O.