The one having a weaker conjugate base will be a stronger acid. If the conjugate
base has to be weak, the negative charge has to be delocalised to a larger
extent.
In o-chlorophenol
Due to the availability of vacant orbitals in chlorine, the negative charge is delocalised to a larger extent. The same cannot take place in case of F as F does not have vacant orbitals. So, o-chlorophenol, having a weaker conjugate base, becomes a stronger acid.
Related Questions
(1)Benzylamine is a stronger base than aniline. Explain.
(2) Why is always the resonance effect dominating over the inductive effect?
(3) Why benzyl carbonium ion is more stable than ethyl carbonium ion.?
