Question

Among primary alcohol, secondary alcohol and tertiary alcohol, which is more acidic? Why?

Answer 1

Alkyl groups are formally electron releasing.Thus, the `1^@` should be most acidic.

Explanation:

Of course, an alkoxide anion would have a very short lifetime in water. In non-aqueous solvents, potassium tert butoxide is a fairly powerful base (and thus its conjugate acid, tertiary butanol is very weak. Acidity of the alcohol thus decreases in the order: `1^@>2^@>3^@`.