The correct order of acidity of the following molecules is :

MH SET - 2019, SET Exam - 2019,
Answer: A
The order is (IV) \(\lt\) (III) \(\lt\) (II) \(\lt\) (I): toluene \(\lt\) 4-nitrophenol \(\lt\) 4-methylbenzoic acid \(\lt\) benzoic acid.
Toluene's methyl C-H is barely acidic (pKa about 41). 4-Nitrophenol is a phenol made more acidic by the para nitro group, which delocalises the phenoxide charge (pKa about 7.2), but it is still weaker than a carboxylic acid. Benzoic acid has pKa 4.20; a para methyl group donates electrons, destabilising the carboxylate slightly, so 4-methylbenzoic acid is a little weaker (pKa 4.37).
The other orders put the phenol above the carboxylic acids, or rank toluene above the phenol, which the pKa values contradict.
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