Phenols are more acidic than alcohols because the phenoxide anion is resonance-stabilized. Delocalization of the negatve charge over the ortho and para positions of the aromatic ring results in increased stability of the phenoxide anion relative to unissociated phenol and in a consequently lower Gํ for the dissociation reaction. Figure 17.3 compares electrostatic potential maps of an alkoxide ion (CH3O-) with phenoxide ion and shows how the negative charge in phenoxide ion is delocalized from oxygen to the ring.