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The reactivity of an aldehyde group (or a ketone group onfor that matter) is dependdepends on the strength of the partial positive charge on the relevant carbonyl carbon. Thus, when comparing the reactivity of benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde, it is a valid argument that benzaldehyde is less reactive than acetaldehyde because the adjacent phenyl ring can stabilize the partially positive charge on carbonyl carbon through resonance (decreasing the strength of positive charge). That is possible because carbonyl group and phenyl ring is directly conjugated.

However, that same argument is not valid when you compare the reactivity of benzoic acid and acetic acid. That's because the reactive center of acidity is not the carbonyl carbon anymore as it was for aldehydes and ketones. The reactivity of carboxylic acid is depend on the strength of the $\ce{O-H}$ bond on carboxylic group, a bond away from carbonyl carbon. Since it is not directly conjugated to the other group attached to the carbonyl carbon, the resonance is not playing the role as that is in aldehyde and ketones. The inductive effect is the one playing strong role in this case. The more the electron withdrawing ability of the group attached to $\ce{COOH}$ the better the acidity. Thus, when comparing the electron withdrawing ability of phenyl and methyl groups, $\ce{Ph \gt CH3}$. Therefore, benzoic acid is more acidic than acetic acid by that reason alone.

The reactivity of an aldehyde group (or a ketone group on that matter) is depend on the strength of the partial positive charge on the relevant carbonyl carbon. Thus, when comparing the reactivity of benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde, it is a valid argument that benzaldehyde is less reactive than acetaldehyde because the adjacent phenyl ring can stabilize the partially positive charge on carbonyl carbon through resonance (decreasing the strength of positive charge). That is possible because carbonyl group and phenyl ring is directly conjugated.

However, that same argument is not valid when you compare the reactivity of benzoic acid and acetic acid. That's because the reactive center of acidity is not the carbonyl carbon anymore as it was for aldehydes and ketones. The reactivity of carboxylic acid is depend on the strength of the $\ce{O-H}$ bond on carboxylic group, a bond away from carbonyl carbon. Since it is not directly conjugated to the other group attached to the carbonyl carbon, the resonance is not playing the role as that is in aldehyde and ketones. The inductive effect is the one playing strong role in this case. The more the electron withdrawing ability of the group attached to $\ce{COOH}$ the better the acidity. Thus, when comparing the electron withdrawing ability of phenyl and methyl groups, $\ce{Ph \gt CH3}$. Therefore, benzoic acid is more acidic than acetic acid by that reason alone.

The reactivity of an aldehyde group (or a ketone group for that matter) depends on the strength of the partial positive charge on the relevant carbonyl carbon. Thus, when comparing the reactivity of benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde, it is a valid argument that benzaldehyde is less reactive than acetaldehyde because the adjacent phenyl ring can stabilize the partially positive charge on carbonyl carbon through resonance (decreasing the strength of positive charge). That is possible because carbonyl group and phenyl ring is directly conjugated.

However, that same argument is not valid when you compare the reactivity of benzoic acid and acetic acid. That's because the reactive center of acidity is not the carbonyl carbon anymore as it was for aldehydes and ketones. The reactivity of carboxylic acid is depend on the strength of the $\ce{O-H}$ bond on carboxylic group, a bond away from carbonyl carbon. Since it is not directly conjugated to the other group attached to the carbonyl carbon, the resonance is not playing the role as that is in aldehyde and ketones. The inductive effect is the one playing strong role in this case. The more the electron withdrawing ability of the group attached to $\ce{COOH}$ the better the acidity. Thus, when comparing the electron withdrawing ability of phenyl and methyl groups, $\ce{Ph \gt CH3}$. Therefore, benzoic acid is more acidic than acetic acid by that reason alone.

Corrected a number of typos.
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user55119
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The reactivity of an aldehyde group (or a kertoneketone group on that matter) is depend on the strength of the partial positive charge on the relaventrelevant carbonyl carbon. Thus, when comparing the reactivity of benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde, it is a valid argument that benzaldehyde is less reactive than acetaldehyde because the adjucentadjacent phenyl ring can stabilize the partially positive charge on carbonyl carbon through resonance (decreasing the strength of positive charge). That is possible because carbonyl group and phenyl ring is directrydirectly conjugated.

However, that same argument is not valid when you compare the reactivity of benzoic acid and acetic acid. That's because the reactive center of acidity is not the carbonyl carbon anymore as it was for aldehydes and ketones. The reactivity of carboxylic acid is depend on the strength of the $\ce{O-H}$ bond on carboxylic group, a bond away from carbonyl carbon. Since it is not directly congugatedconjugated to the other group attached to the carbonyl carbon, the resonance is not playing the role as that is in aldehyde and ketones. The inductive effect is the one playing strong role in this case. The more the electron withdrowingwithdrawing ability of the group attached to $\ce{COOH}$ the better the acidity. Thus, when compareingcomparing the electron withdrowingwithdrawing ability of phenyl and methyl groups, $\ce{Ph \gt CH3}$. Therefore, benzoic acid is more acidic than aciticacetic acid by that reason alone.

The reactivity of an aldehyde group (or a kertone group on that matter) is depend on the strength of the partial positive charge on the relavent carbonyl carbon. Thus, when comparing the reactivity of benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde, it is a valid argument that benzaldehyde is less reactive than acetaldehyde because the adjucent phenyl ring can stabilize the partially positive charge on carbonyl carbon through resonance (decreasing the strength of positive charge). That is possible because carbonyl group and phenyl ring is directry conjugated.

However, that same argument is not valid when you compare the reactivity of benzoic acid and acetic acid. That's because the reactive center of acidity is not the carbonyl carbon anymore as it was for aldehydes and ketones. The reactivity of carboxylic acid is depend on the strength of the $\ce{O-H}$ bond on carboxylic group, a bond away from carbonyl carbon. Since it is not directly congugated to the other group attached to the carbonyl carbon, the resonance is not playing the role as that is in aldehyde and ketones. The inductive effect is the one playing strong role in this case. The more the electron withdrowing ability of the group attached to $\ce{COOH}$ the better the acidity. Thus, when compareing the electron withdrowing ability of phenyl and methyl groups, $\ce{Ph \gt CH3}$. Therefore, benzoic acid is more acidic than acitic acid by that reason alone.

The reactivity of an aldehyde group (or a ketone group on that matter) is depend on the strength of the partial positive charge on the relevant carbonyl carbon. Thus, when comparing the reactivity of benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde, it is a valid argument that benzaldehyde is less reactive than acetaldehyde because the adjacent phenyl ring can stabilize the partially positive charge on carbonyl carbon through resonance (decreasing the strength of positive charge). That is possible because carbonyl group and phenyl ring is directly conjugated.

However, that same argument is not valid when you compare the reactivity of benzoic acid and acetic acid. That's because the reactive center of acidity is not the carbonyl carbon anymore as it was for aldehydes and ketones. The reactivity of carboxylic acid is depend on the strength of the $\ce{O-H}$ bond on carboxylic group, a bond away from carbonyl carbon. Since it is not directly conjugated to the other group attached to the carbonyl carbon, the resonance is not playing the role as that is in aldehyde and ketones. The inductive effect is the one playing strong role in this case. The more the electron withdrawing ability of the group attached to $\ce{COOH}$ the better the acidity. Thus, when comparing the electron withdrawing ability of phenyl and methyl groups, $\ce{Ph \gt CH3}$. Therefore, benzoic acid is more acidic than acetic acid by that reason alone.

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Mathew Mahindaratne
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The reactivity of an aldehyde group (or a kertone group on that matter) is depend on the strength of the partial positive charge on the relavent carbonyl carbon. Thus, when comparing the reactivity of benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde, it is a valid argument that benzaldehyde is less reactive than acetaldehyde because the adjucent phenyl ring can stabilize the partially positive charge on carbonyl carbon through resonance (decreasing the strength of positive charge). That is possible because carbonyl group and phenyl ring is directry conjugated.

However, that same argument is not valid when you compare the reactivity of benzoic acid and acetic acid. That's because the reactive center of acidity is not the carbonyl carbon anymore as it was for aldehydes and ketones. The reactivity of carboxylic acid is depend on the strength of the $\ce{O-H}$ bond on carboxylic group, a bond away from carbonyl carbon. Since it is not directly congugated to the other group attached to the carbonyl carbon, the resonance is not playing the role as that is in aldehyde and ketones. The inductive effect is the one playing strong role in this case. The more the electron withdrowing ability of the group attached to $\ce{COOH}$ the better the acidity. Thus, when compareing the electron withdrowing ability of phenyl and methyl groups, $\ce{Ph \gt CH3}$. Therefore, benzoic acid is more acidic than acitic acid by that reason alone.