Carboxylic acids are stronger acids than phenols because the carboxylate anion is stabilized by equivalent resonance structures. Thus, D and E are more acidic than A, B, and C.
For the carboxylic acids, the −NO2 group in D is an electron-withdrawing group (−I,−R), which stabilizes the conjugate base, making D more acidic than E.
For the phenols, electron-withdrawing groups increase acidity while electron-donating groups decrease it. The −NO2 group in B is electron-withdrawing, making it more acidic than A. The −OCH3 group in C is electron-donating (+R>−I), making it less acidic than A. Thus, the order for phenols is B > A > C.
Combining these, the overall descending order of acidity is D > E > B > A > C.
Answer: D>E>B>A>C
