The presence of a substituent at Ortho-position of aromatic acid increases the acidic character by steric inhibition of resonance(SIR). This effect is called the ortho effect.
Hence all ortho substituted benzoic acids are stronger than their meta and para counter parts.
The ortho effect is not observed in phenols.
The presence of electron withdrawing groups particularly at Ortho and Para positions increases the strength of benzoic acid.
Notes : (1) SIR (ortho) effect observed only in V-shaped groups like -COOH , -NO2 , -N(CH3)2, -COOR, -C+(CH3)2 etc and also aniline.
(2) SIR effect not observed on atomic, linear groups and smaller groups like -X , -CN, -OH, -CH3, etc.
(1) S.I.P. :Steric Inhibition of protanation (Ortho effect):
Alpha bond angle is smaller than Beta angle due to bond pairs and lone pair repulsion.
And after protanation, repulsion increases and anilinium ion becomes unstable due to the Steric effect of ortho substituted groups, hence aniline always avoid to protanation in presence of ortho substituted groups. so ortho substituted aniline is less basic than aniline . Except -OH and -OCH3.
For example:
. Basic order given as above:
SIR : Steric Inhibition of resonance ( ortho effect):
When a group present in the ortho position with respect to carboxylic group creates steric strain resulting in rotation of the carboxylic group and shifting it out of plane of the benzene ring as a result the carboxylic group can no longer participate in ring resonance and thereby the acidity increases as delocalization of negative charge equally on the both oxygen atom of conjugate base ( carboxylate ion) of the benzoic acid , hence carboxylate ion more stablised. This is also called the Ortho effect.
Ortho substituted benzoic acid is stronger acid than benzoic except -NH2 groups.
For example:
The acidic strength order given as above: