Question
Although phenoxide ion has more number of resonating structures than carboxylate ion, carboxylic acid is a stronger acid than phenol. Why?
Solution
This may be attributed to the fact that there is resonance stabilisation both in case of carboxylic acid and the carboxylate anion while there is no such stabilization in case of phenol or phenoxide ion. Thus, the acid in a better position to release H+ compared to phenol and is, therefore, a stronger in behaviour.

