Hammett p values have been determined for a series of phenylmercapto-, phenylsulfinyl-, and phenylsulfonylacetic acids in water and 50% by volume dioxane-water. Comparison of these p values with p values reported previously for other similar systems indicates that the mercapto group is more effective in the transmission of inductive effects than is the methylene or oxy groups. In the present series the sulfinyl group is the least effective ...