How and why does 2-naphthol differ from benzoic acid when adding nahco3

2-naphtol is a weak acid and benzoic acid is a stronger acid. NaHCO3 is a weak base, that will only react with a strong acid like benzoic acid. 2-napthol is not soluble in sodium bicarbonate.

Explanation:

2-naphtol is a phenol. Phenol is made of a benzene attached to an OH group. So, it is a (big) organic molecule, and a little non-polar group. The conjugated (or non-localised) electrons in the benzene ring pull electrons away from the OH group. It makes it harder for the oxygen to steal the hydrogen's electrons and become O-.

A phenol is acidic in nature because of this H+ releasing. This will result in forming a phenoxide.

Benzoic acid is a carboxylic acid and is more acidic than a phenol. Since it's acid it will also release H+ ion, in this case to form carboxylate which is more stable than phenoxide.  The phenoxide is resonance stabilised.

The negative charge , in carboxylate, is delecoalised on the negatively charged O atom what makes it more stable than phenoxide. Compared to carboxylic acid.  ( or benzoic acid) phenol ( or 2-naphtol) is a weak acid.

NaHCO3 is a weak base and will only react with a strong acid like carboxylic acid. A naphtol is not strong enough to react with the weak base NaHCO3.

This means 2-naphtol is a weak acid and benzoic acid is a stronger acid. NaHCO3 is a weak base, that will only react with a strong acid like benzoic acid. 2-napthol is not soluble in sodium bicarbonate.