Recall that carboxylic acids have ionization constants Ka of approximately 〖10〗^(-10) (pKa 5), whereas the Ka’s of alcohols are in the 〖10〗^16to 〖10〗^(-20)range (pKa 16–20). The Ka for most phenols is about 〖10〗^(-10)(pKa 10).
To help us understand why phenols are more acidic than alcohols, let’s compare the ionization equilibria for phenol and ethanol
In particular, consider the differences in charge delocalization in ethoxide ion and in phenoxide ion.
The negative charge in ethoxide ion is localized on oxygen and is stabilized only by solvation forces
The negative charge in phenoxide ion is stabilized both by solvation and by electron delocalization into the ring
Electron delocalization in phenoxide is represented by resonance among the structures