Phenols are more acidic than alcohols because
Phenols are more acidic than alcohols because the phenoxide ion formed after losing a hydrogen ion (H+) is stabilized by resonance. The negative charge on the oxygen atom is delocalized over the aromatic ring, which makes the phenoxide ion more stable. On the other hand, the alkoxide ion formed from alcohols does not have such resonance stabilization, making alcohols less acidic.