Carboxylic acids are weaker than mineral acids, but they are stronger
acids than alcohols and many simple phenols (pKa is ~16 for ethanol
and 10 for phenol) In fact, carboxylic acids are amongst the most acidic
organic compounds you have studied so far You already know why
phenols are more acidic than alcohols The higher acidity of carboxylic
acids as compared to phenols can be understood similarly