question_answer

Unlike phenols, alcohols are easily protonated. or Alcohols are easily protonated in comparison to phenols.                        or Why do phenols not give protonation reactions readily?

Answer:

                In phenols, the lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom are delocalised over the benzene ring due to resonance and hence are not easily available for protonation. In contrast in alcohols, the lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom are localized due to absence of resonance and hence are easily available for protonation.