The reaction of phenol with sodium metal and with aq. NaOH indicates the acidic nature of phenol.
i) Phenol reacts with sodium metal to form sodium phenoxide.
`to` In phenol hydroxyl group is attached to the `Sp^(2)` hydridised carbon of benzene ring which acts as electron with drawing group.
Comparison of acidic character of Phenol and Ethanol :
`to` The reaction of phenol with aq. NaOH indicates that phenols are stronger acids than alcohols.
`to` The hydroxyl group attached to an aromatic ring is more acidic than in hydroxyl group is attached to an alkyl group. `to` Phenol forms stable phenoxide ion stabilised by resonance but ethoxide ion is not.
