JEE Main 2026 — Carboxylic Acid Derivatives Question with Solution
JEE Main 2026 (04 April Shift 2)
Question
The descending order of acidity among the following compounds is:
A. Phenol
B. -nitrophenol
C. -methoxyphenol
D. -nitrobenzoic acid
E. Benzoic acid
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
A. Phenol
B. -nitrophenol
C. -methoxyphenol
D. -nitrobenzoic acid
E. Benzoic acid
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Choose an option
Show full solutionCorrect option: D
Correct answer
D
Step-by-step explanation
Carboxylic acids are stronger acids than phenols because the carboxylate anion is stabilized by equivalent resonance structures. Thus, D and E are more acidic than A, B, and C.
For the carboxylic acids, the group in D is an electron-withdrawing group (), which stabilizes the conjugate base, making D more acidic than E.
For the phenols, electron-withdrawing groups increase acidity while electron-donating groups decrease it. The group in B is electron-withdrawing, making it more acidic than A. The group in C is electron-donating (), making it less acidic than A. Thus, the order for phenols is B A C.
Combining these, the overall descending order of acidity is D E B A C.
Answer:
For the carboxylic acids, the group in D is an electron-withdrawing group (), which stabilizes the conjugate base, making D more acidic than E.
For the phenols, electron-withdrawing groups increase acidity while electron-donating groups decrease it. The group in B is electron-withdrawing, making it more acidic than A. The group in C is electron-donating (), making it less acidic than A. Thus, the order for phenols is B A C.
Combining these, the overall descending order of acidity is D E B A C.
Answer:
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This is a previous-year question from JEE Main 2026, covering the Carboxylic Acid Derivatives chapter of Chemistry. PrepSharp catalogues every PYQ from JEE Main with a verified answer key and step-by-step solution prepared by IIT alumni — so you can search by chapter, topic or year and revise efficiently.