Question

Which of the two: O₂NCH₂CH₂O– or CH₃CH₂O– is expected to be more stable & why ?

Answer 1

O₂NCH₂CH₂O– is more stable than CH₃CH₂O– because NO₂ group has –I effect and hence it tends to disperse the negative charge on the oxygen atom. In contrast, CH₃CH₂ has +I effect. It, therefore, tends to intensify the negative charge and hence destabilizes it.