Primary alcohols and phenols are organic compounds that contain a hydroxyl -OH group. However, their reactivity towards nucleophilic substitution and oxidation reactions differ due to their acidity and basicity properties.Acidity and Basicity:Primary alcohols have a lower acidity compared to phenols. In primary alcohols, the -OH group is attached to an alkyl group, which has a weak electron-donating effect. This makes it difficult for the oxygen atom to lose a proton H+ and form an alkoxide ion R-O- . On the other hand, phenols have a higher acidity due to the presence of an aromatic ring. The -OH group in phenols is directly attached to the aromatic ring, which has a strong electron-withdrawing effect. This stabilizes the phenoxide ion Ar-O- formed after losing a proton, making phenols more acidic than primary alcohols.Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions:Primary alcohols are more reactive towards nucleophilic substitution reactions compared to phenols. In primary alcohols, the alkyl group can be easily replaced by a nucleophile due to the electron-donating effect of the alkyl group, which makes the carbon atom more susceptible to nucleophilic attack. However, in phenols, the aromatic ring's electron-withdrawing effect makes the carbon atom less susceptible to nucleophilic attack. Additionally, the phenoxide ion formed after deprotonation is resonance-stabilized, making it less likely to undergo nucleophilic substitution reactions.Oxidation Reactions:Primary alcohols can be easily oxidized to aldehydes and carboxylic acids using common oxidizing agents such as potassium permanganate KMnO4 or chromic acid H2CrO4 . The oxidation process involves the removal of hydrogen atoms from the alcohol's carbon and oxygen atoms, leading to the formation of a carbonyl group C=O .Phenols, on the other hand, are less prone to oxidation reactions due to the resonance stabilization of the aromatic ring. However, under specific conditions and with strong oxidizing agents, phenols can undergo oxidation reactions to form quinones or other complex aromatic compounds. These reactions typically involve the aromatic ring and not the hydroxyl group.In conclusion, primary alcohols and phenols exhibit different reactivity towards nucleophilic substitution and oxidation reactions due to their varying acidity and basicity properties. Primary alcohols are more reactive towards nucleophilic substitution and can be easily oxidized, while phenols are less reactive towards nucleophilic substitution and require specific conditions for oxidation reactions.