Explain why ethanoic acid is more acidic than ethanol using resonance
Ethanoic acid (acetic acid) is more acidic than ethanol due to the presence of a resonance structure in the carboxylic acid functional group. In ethanoic acid, the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group is more acidic because of the resonance stabilization of the negative charge on the oxygen atom in the carboxylic acid group.
In the resonance structure of ethanoic acid, the double bond between the carbon and oxygen atoms can shift to form a resonant structure where the negative charge is delocalized over both the oxygen and carbon atoms. This delocalization stabilizes the negative charge and makes it easier for the hydrogen to dissociate, resulting in a stronger acid.
On the other hand, ethanol does not have a resonance stabilization of the negative charge on the oxygen atom in the hydroxyl group because it lacks the carboxylic acid functional group. This means that the hydrogen in ethanol is less acidic compared to ethanoic acid because it does not have the same degree of stabilization of the resulting negative charge upon dissociation.