Select the correct option based on statements below:

Assertion (A): Ethanol is a weaker acid than phenol.
Reason (R): Sodium ethoxide may be prepared by the reaction of ethanol with aqueous NaOH.
 
1. Both (A) and (R) are True and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
2. Both (A) and (R) are True but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
3. (A) is True but (R) is False.
4. (A) is False but (R) is True.

Hint: Conjugate base of phenol is resonance stabilized.

The conjugate base of phenol, that is, phenoxide ion is stabilized by resonance but ethoxide ion is destabilized by the +I effect of the alkyl chain. Hence, ethanol is a weaker acid than phenol.

Resonance in phenoxide ion as follows:

Sodium ethoxide cannot be prepared by the reaction of ethanol with aqueous NaOH because ethanol is a weak acid and for ethoxide ion formation strong base is required.