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JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3g2030

Assertion: Ethoxide ion is a stronger base than phenoxide ion. Reason: Ethoxide ion is stabilised by resonance.

  1. ABoth Assertion and Reason are true but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
  2. BAssertion is true but Reason is false.
  3. CAssertion is false but Reason is true.
  4. DBoth Assertion and Reason are true and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

Answer: B

Ethanol (pKa 15.9) is a weaker acid than phenol (10.0), so ethoxide is the stronger base: the assertion is true. The reason is false because ethoxide has no resonance, the negative charge being localised on oxygen; it is phenoxide which is resonance stabilised.
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