CBSE Class 12-science Answered

Phenol is more acidic than cresol.

In the cresol, there is one electron donating methyl group is attached to the ring which exerts +I effect and hyperconjugation resulting increase in nucleophilicity of negatively charged oxygen hence it accepts the proton quickly. Due to this, it could not release the proton easily as compared to phenol.

In the case of phenol, when it releases a proton a phenoxide ring is formed which is stable due to the +R effect.