Answer: Sodium phenoxide.
- A Sodium phenoxide
- B Sodium benzoate
- C Cyclohexanol
- D Benzene
Correct answer: A. Sodium phenoxide
Explanation: Phenol is acidic enough to react with NaOH forming sodium phenoxide and water.
The phenoxide ion's negative charge spreads into the aromatic ring through resonance, lowering its energy and making phenol give up its proton more easily; an alkoxide ion (from a plain alcohol) has nowhere to delocalise the charge, making alcohols far less acidic.
Concept context
Oxygen-containing organic compounds. Understand the acidic nature of phenols, reactions of alcohols (dehydration, oxidation, esterification), and properties of ethers. Includes industrial applications and named reactions.